Strengthen state and local laws to protect victims of domestic abuse and stalking sign now

To: Elected and Appointed South Carolina Representatives

We wish to present the following petition for your consideration.
Domestic Violence is a long ignored issue in South Carolina. It takes on all forms of abuse, beatings, verbal, sexual, emotional, the most horrendous is permanent disability or death of the victim. In South Carolina alone more than 36,000 victims annually report a domestic violence incident to law enforcement agencies around the state. Over the past twelve years, an average of thirty-three (33) women have been killed each year by their intimate partner. Statistics show that currently South Carolina ranks #6 in the nation for homicide by domestic partner.

We are requesting the review and revision of all federal, state and local statues governing Domestic Violence (DV). We feel that laws should be established to offer assistance within the first 24-48 hours to those who report threats of bodily harm including death threats. Emergency assistance should include emergency housing, surviellance, and/or arrest of the perpetrator.

We the undersigned urge our appointed and elected representatives to pay serious attention to strengthening domestic violence laws and providing greater protection by treating domestic violence as a serious offense.

We urge you to do all within your power to insure that:
1) a first offense of domestic violence, even if considered a misdemeanor, is filed in all states/counties and not just the state/county in which it occurred;
2) all previous assaults on record from all states/counties committed by a person who commits domestic violence are taken into consideration when he/she is convicted and sentenced, and;
3) emergency shelter and/or surviellance be offered to any person who feels their life is in danger by threats received from an intimate partner.


Sincerely,