(Columbia) June 1, 2004 - William Turner was charged
with murder and assault and battery with intent to kill
back in May, just hours after he posted bond on charges
that he assaulted his wife.
Police say Turner shot his wife in the head at their
Cayce home and killed a man who was working on the
house. Cases like this one are the reason advocates say
they are pushing for the Criminal
Domestic Homicide Prevention Act.
The bill gives a judge the discretion to take guns
out of the hands of those charged with criminal domestic
violence even before they are convicted. The bill made
it through the House after six years of discussion and
even a full Senate sub-committee.
One senator objected when the bill hit the full
Senate floor. In South Carolina, only one senator has to
object in order to prevent the bill from going any
further.
Senator Jake Knotts (R-Dist. 23) says one detail
still needs to be worked out, "We've got to make sure as
in any law that we pass up here that the innocent is
protected." He objects to basic Constitutional rights
being abrogated without a conviction in a court, "It
wouldn't be fair to take away a person's rights or
property that wasn't involved in any type of criminal
activity."
Vicki Bourus says the delay is costing lives, "As
that bill sits and people are so concerned about
removing guns, in the meantime victims continue to die."
Bourus is a victims advocate, "I know we're not going to
prevent every domestic homicide, but if we can save
lives, if we can reduce the number of domestic homicides
in the state that's another child that doesn't lose
their mother."
Senator Knotts told News 10 if the bill protected
people who live with a criminal domestic violence
suspect from having their guns taken away, he would
change his mind, "Oh yes, if we can get that worked out,
we could get it passed in a heartbeat."
Criminal domestic violence advocates tell WIS they
have been working throughout the day with their attorney
in order to come up with language that would be
acceptable to Senator Knotts. The Senator had not
withdrawn his objection as of early Tuesday
evening.
The legislative session ends Thursday at 5:00pm.
By Kara
Gormley
Posted 7:34pm by BrettWitt
