(Columbia) April 21, 2005 - WIS viewers have responded en masse to Kara Gormley's interview with Representative John Graham Altman on the issue of the criminal domestic violence bill which the Judiciary Committee has tabled for the year.

After watching the news Tuesday night, Malissa Burnette, former chair of South Carolina's domestic violence task force, did something she's never done before, "I was so shocked. My husband and I, our jaws dropped when watching the television, and I called today to thank WIS for covering that issue."

Charleston County Council Chairman Leon Stavrinakis wrote in a letter to the editor that, "It is sad that in all of Mr. Altman's time in public life he really has no claim to fame other than that of being a divisive, wiseguy. It is even sadder that we in Charleston County have a state representative who has injured his credibility so badly over the years that he is wholly unable to provide any solutions for the problems that ail the community he represents."

Becky Hubert also saw the interview, "I was absolutely amazed that somebody would be that ignorant to say what he said to her, and I'm so proud of her for saying the comments she did. I would have gone off if I were her."

April Watts responded after watching the interview as well, "I sent an email to the speaker of the house and the head of the Judiciary Committee saying not only does he need to apologize to Kara Gormley, he needs to apologize to women in general."

LaShanda Palmer, 28, says she watched her mother suffer from domestic abuse, "My father was an electrician. He had to wear steel toe boots. I've seen him kick my mother with those work boots."

LaShandra says her mom tried to go, "I'm thankful that my father was able to walk away, that my mother wasn't killed, that my brother, sister weren't killed. That's how it ended, but that's not the story of a lot of people. Millions of people are killed at the hands of an abuser."

Palmer says her mother was not the one to leave because she feared her husband would kill her, which is one of several reasons experts say women stay in relationships with abusers.

Palmer responded to Altman's comments, "It did hurt me to hear Altman say to you, you were stupid, 'not bright.' That statement in itself sends a message to the women of South Carolina. Legislators are supposed to protect the rights of victims. When legislators find it okay to to verbalize abuse to women, then it doesn't surprise me a law to protect women would be killed by that same legislator. That doesn't surprise me, it scares me that the people responsible to protect rights of citizens can be abusive towad women and show lack of respect toward anyone by trying to belittle her."

Women weren't the only ones surprised. Rahsaan Richardson reacts, "It was interesting that we have someone representing our state that would voice their opinions like that."

Burnette says, "You cannot continue to put it off year after year. There's always something like cockfighting that is more important than domestic violence, it seems."

Randy James also says that it has been put off, "I think people have ignored it for a long time and it's something that gets worse and nobody talks about, and I think when the legislature has the chance to make a difference, I think they should."

Some think after Monday night's story, they will. Burnette expects results, "I definitely feel something good will come out of this report, because it's bringing the issue to the public."

One viewer organized a protest on the Gervais Street side of the State House on Thursday morning. She asked the public to attend and show how they feel about Representative Altman's comments.

Reported by Angie Goff
Updated 10:55am by Chantelle Janelle