Altman Speaks Out Against Battered Women Thursday April 21, 2005 12:47am    Posted By: Theresa Acker Do you think the U.S. needs to send more troops to Iraq?  Yes  No  Not sure ___  ABC News 4 Interact  ___    • Signup for eNews Alerts    • ABC News 4 Pulse Poll    • Whats Your Opinion?    • Printable Version    • E-Mail This Story Charleston, SC - A local legislator's comments spark controversy. John Graham Altman spoke out about battered women.. questioning them for going back into an abusive relationship.Advocates say leaving isn't an easy decision.. think about if you're dependent on your abuser.. you don't have your own money or a job.. it may seem like you don't have a choice.. and Altman's comments aren't helping."I think this bill was drafted out of an abundance of ignorance."That's what John Graham Altman said after a committee he's on.. made cockfighting a felony.. but, kept a second domestic violence offense a misdemeanor.. Altman goes on to say, "There ought not be a second offense a women ought not be around a man."Domestic violence advocates say comments like that are a lack of education.. leaving isn't easy."She loves that person, she knows a different side to that person- he's not always bad so she thinks about the good times," says Elmire Raven, Executive Director, My Sister's House.In fact.. 35% of the women at My Sister's House have been there before.. on average it takes 5 to 7 times to leave an abusive relationship.. it's news to this legislator. "Tell me what self-respecting person is going to go back to someone who beats them."Altman stood firmly behind the votes.. prompting a reporter to ask if he values a gamecock's life more than a woman's.. "I would hope our legislators were not saying that."The Speaker of the House was quick to say domestic violence is an issue the legislature take seriously.. and they intend to fix the problems with the bill.  My Sister's House is the only domestic violence shelter serving Berkeley, Dorchester and Charleston counties.. they're open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. » Find More Articles Related To This One Copyright 2005 WCIV, LLC.

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