DEBATE OVER DOMESTIC VIOLENCE LEGISLATION MAKING TEMPERATURES RISE …
|| By MIA McLEOD || Domestic violence is real in South Carolina. So are the guns that were used to obliterate the lives of at least 40 of the 47 women, men and children who were murdered in 2013.
It’s real here in Richland County, for the families of Tabatha Priester, Dierra Fisher, Reynettia Mosley and my cousin, Zelda Kollock.
It’s real in Anderson County for the families of Brenda Hurt, Sonja Roe and Theresa Williams.
It’s real in Greenville and Spartanburg Counties for the families of Kristin Collins, Joyce Elliott, Tracie Gilbert, Mary Guthrie, and David Moholland.
It’s real in Charleston and Dorchester Counties for the families of Melinda Ford, Zakiya Lawson, Barbara Reese, and Mong Thuy Doan.
It’s real in Abbeville and Greenwood Counties for the families of Samuel George and Felicia Bayford.
It’s real in Horry, Georgetown and Florence Counties for the families of Steven Hall, Ebony Parson, David Sims, Jr., Terry Vick, Yvonne Holmes and Kendra Johnson.
It’s real in Oconee, Pickens and Cherokee Counties, for the families of Gwendolyn Hiott, Christy Ingram, and Doris Smith.
It’s real in Lancaster and York Counties for the families of Deborah Hilton, Sierra Landry and Mary Martin.
It’s real in Aiken, Edgefield and Saluda Counties for the families of Christopher Rowley, Otis Key, Jr. and Annie Rowe.
It’s real in Newberry County for the families of Anndrenna Butler and Sally Myers.
And it doesn’t get any more real than in Greenwood County, where Chandra Fields’ ex-boyfriend shot and killed her, her parents and her nephews – before turning the gun on himself.
Domestic Violence knows no boundaries. It touches every region … every race … and every resident of our state. There’s no room for political posturing, grand-standing or ego-trippin’.
It’s time for us to get real.
For too long, lawmakers have been obsessed with protecting the liberties of lawbreakers, and that obsession continues to trample and trump the rights of our citizens.
Today, the SC House passed a bipartisan DV Reform bill. And while this legislation is stronger and more comprehensive than our current DV law, it simply provides a foundation upon which we can build.
But for a state that often puts more emphasis on teaching children how to shoot instead of teaching them how to read, this bill is a significant step towards saving lives.
And yet, our obsession with guns is far from over. On Tuesday, the House’s debate was less about how many lives we could save, and more about how these abusive offenders and murderers can get their guns back, after they’ve been confiscated.
In fact, Rep. Phil Lowe tried to take that obsession even further, by proposing that SLED protect these confiscated firearms in a humidity-controlled environment.
Seriously?
Too bad we can’t “control” the temperatures of abusers and “regulate” the environments of those who live in constant fear.
Maybe if we cared as much about protecting life and liberty, as we do property … we just might be able to stop some abusers before they kill.
Perhaps we could then eliminate these insidious, insensitive proposals that continue to make my “temperature” rise.
We’ve got a real opportunity to begin to turn this state around when it comes to domestic violence. I’m grateful to those whose personal testimonies continue to inspire, enlighten and educate us, and to my House and Senate colleagues, who’ve given so much of their time, talents and energy to this effort.
So when questions concerning restoration of gun rights for abusers, out-number questions concerning restoration of peace, safety and quality-of-life for the abused, all of us should get “heated.”
While our DV bill is far from finished and certainly not perfect, it is progress.
And if it can help save even one life, isn’t it worth it?
Mia McLeod represents District No. 79 in the South Carolina House of Representatives.
99 comments
Palmetto State Armory has some excellent deals this month.
The one in Greenville is hurting for business and may shut down before too long
They’re way overpriced on everything and count on dumbasses who fondle their firearms not to know any different to make up for their high overhead.
Gotta research what your shopping for like anything else. Got a great deal on an H&K 2000SK about a month ago, $200 less than anywhere in the country. It was my first time buying from them and I checked the them out before making my AR purchase today, but Cabelas of all places was running a special that just couldn’t be beat . Lord knows you can’t or rather shouldn’t just walk in a gun store and just start looking around for whatever catches your eye. I would be broke as a joke.
Ever hear of “loss-leader” or “switch & bait”???
Like I posted, places like Palmetto Armory are new and have high overhead. Plus the bubble for gun sales peaked some time back. All these places popped up during the paranoid crazy shit a few years back when ammo went out the roof due to dumbasses hording ammo.
The two times I’ve been in the one in Greenville, it was dead as Sears and shit was overpriced. I was just window shopping anyway and don’t have any reason or desire to go back.
They are running ads for their shoting range all the time – that tells me that they are hurting for business. I bet there has been 6 or more indoor ranges pop up in GSP area over the last two years and I expect a number of them to fail.
The parking lot is damn near empty every time I’ve passed it
“Too bad we can’t “control” the temperatures of abusers and “regulate” the environments of those who live in constant fear.”
Oh, governments are working towards total control, and they’ll get it. So don’t worry.
Maybe you should put forward a bill to put a camera in every household so the police can sit around watching family interactions on their computer instead of porn.
That should save a few lives.
Yawn. Take your slippery slope BS back to Fox News.
You yawn yet reply?
lol
At least you don’t consider yourself a special snowflake.
Good one, Mia!
Anyone convicted of domestic abuse should never be allowed to own a gun again.
Yeah, especially when laws have lowered the bar as to what it takes to get a CDV conviction, that a trench had to be dug to accomodate its lower position. You do realize that all it takes to get arrested for CDV in this state is for her to have a little red mark or bruise somewhere and to say that you did it? Did you know that people are being arrested now because the guy said something “that scared her or put her in fear” sometimes because she misinterpreted what he meant? Before you say everyone has a right to trial, please know that not everyone can afford quality legal representation to defend them from these charges and arrests, which often result in convictions.
Sounds as if you speak from experience.
I’m betting no one wants to champion any other solutions … like training women how to use guns for self defense?
Typical South Carolinian. Guns are the answer to everything.
No.
But usually the entire Bill Of Rights is the answer to just about all of the “progressive” Fascists’ private property seizure agenda.
I remember when Right Wing goofs like you were shouting
“If you takes guns away from average folks only Criminals will have guns!”
Now you dumbasses are in effect shouting,
“Let the criminals keep their guns.”
Such is the world in which your ILK exist!
…or in your case, “let’s make everyone a criminal so no one can have guns”.
Another Dumbass remark by a Dumbass Right Wing goof.
You see Homer,a person convicted of CDV is a CRIMINAL.
Then again,knowing the lunacy among your type,perhaps you SUPPORT CDV?
Yes, but Jamal who is accused of CDV is not a criminal and is still being denied due process and property rights because someone accused him of “making them fear for their life”
Bazinga!
There was a person on here before that supported letting anyone and everyone own a gun, even felons, arguing that the non-felons having uninhibited access to guns would keep them in check.
That’s a few too many steps into Crazyland for basically 99% of the population though, thank God.
“There was a person on here before that supported letting anyone and everyone own a gun, even felons, arguing that the non-felons having uninhibited access to guns would keep them in check.”
That would be me.
The fact remains that criminals are such because most of them don’t care about the law to start. Making laws specifically for them in ludicrous under that context.
“Hey you, law breaker! We are making a law that says you’re breaking the law if you do *this*, so don’t do *this* law breaker!”
My five year old would know better.
*is
Well, how about letting all of the wives have their own big wheel pickup truck? It is a much better weapon than any pistol.
So, you are willing and eager to give up your family’s home security to satisfy Gruberment?
The interesting thing is that if We All get to keep our guns, then Gruberment will continue to listen to us as if We All had actually read and understood most of the Constitution. … Yes, that would include “the criminals”, but it would also include my wife, who does not feel safe in our Northern Taxifornia neighborhood.
A question: Would you feel any different if the Japanese had won World War II? My reasoning is simple here: The Admiral of the Japanese Fleet that attacked Pearl Harbor said that Japan should not attempt to invade the USA because the citizenry had guns.
He’s from California champ.
Guns are the answer to everything.
No.
That would be booze.
“I tried to drown my sorrows, but the bastards learned how to swim, and now I am overwhelmed by this decent and good feeling.”
? Frida Kahlo
Nope! That would involve too much actual thought and common sense, sans the warm and fuzzy feeling they get from agreeing with or being part of a movement. It would also take away from the political agenda of creating more and more classes of people who lose their rights, often based on nothing more than an accusation or perception.
I personally believe that as a part of any proposed “reparations” to the Black Community for any of us Whiteys past sins, they should all be give a .357 Magnum at birth and bullets on their birthdays.
Just as long as I’m a better shot than the hubby, no worries here.
You don’t have to be a better shot, you just have to think of it first, and shoot him while he sleeps.
Don’t thank me. I come up with these solutions as a public service.
And he knows I would if he laid a hand on me!
He can’t touch you? OMG… has Ward been too hard on the Beaver?
Or just run him over with his own pickup truck.
Really, you only need to know how to drive a big wheel pickup truck. … It is a much better weapon than any pistolairo.
Why not just let them shoot it out?
In my neighborhood: A friend of mine arranged to have his daughter move in with him to get away from her abusive husband. OK, that lasted about 5 weeks until she went back to her husband (125 miles). My observations of her convinced me that she had problems herself, and she just didn’t care what happened to her. She is not an aggressive, outgoing sort of person. Her father tried to help her but she just seems to want the shit literally beaten out her by her husband. Why leave a safe environment for that? I don’t have the answer. It’s just a vicious, damned circle.
When they are beaten, they are pitied, and have value…. the more horrible the beating, the more apologetic the asshole is the next day… repeating his love and how sorry he is… and everyone is gentle with her when they see the scars and bruises… it’s only natural that someone who can only get that level of affection from being abused will increase the dose every time, in an attempt to reach nirvana.
‘When they are beaten, they are pitied, and have value ….. ‘ and everyone is gentle with her when they see the scars and bruises.’
Yes, I have witnessed that pattern and there’s a lot of truth in that statement…
A ready subject of conversation for one who has trouble in the social shark tank.
I once knew a young wife whose hubby put her in the trunk of his car naked, took her to the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night and left her. Well, some good Samaritan rescued her and guess what, she went straight back to the hubby for more abuse hoping he would change. How about some legislation for that kind of stupidity?
Lets beat the Hell out of him.
“But for a state that often puts more emphasis on teaching children how to shoot instead of teaching them how to read,..”
Read more at https://www.fitsnews.com/2015/04/16/mia-mcleod-heated/#JPZ3yZDWb39lcbes.99
That’s where you lost me, the root cause of the criminal insanity associated with domestic violence goes much deeper than the instrumentality used to commit the violent act. Blaming human weakness and evil on an object is missing the point. The root cause is much deeper and deserves more than a knee jerk. You could remove every firearm in the state and you would still have the problem.
Sometimes, guns are too convenient for someone capable of committing these crimes, and that should be addressed keeping in mind that it may help, but will not solve the problem.
Teaching MORE children about shooting, gun safety, hunting and self defense might just breed happier, more stable future adults less likely to become crazed criminal domestic abusers.
I agree, there is a root cause to domestic violence, and kids learning how to shoot guns is not the cause. It is about as wayward as claiming that knives inspired ISIS to violence and therefore to beheading innocent people.
I also think that anyone inspired to hurt someone they know or once loved will cause harm given the availability any kind of weapon, including their personal physical attributes.
Yup! Taking away guns from ACCUSED abusers is wrong. How about teach your kids self-control and self-esteem. There are too many programs now a days for abused women. They do not have to make a choice between losing the hubs income and going back to an abuser. Very sorry about the 40 people who died at the hands of someone they “loved”. How about give us some stats on how many of them “forgave” someone and returned time and time again. Who’s the nutcase here?
Like!!!! (your and Enerba’s comment)
I DEMAND that we ban pencils. They are causing spelling mistakes. Only those who have been certified by our government should be allowed to have them. That is the first step to our eventual utopia.
Mia,
No one is arguing that CONVICTED violent CDV offenders should be allowed to keep their guns.
You want to take guns away of people accused of a crime, who have not yet been convicted, and give the “caretaker” of said guns to abuse them at will. Have you ever had a level headed discussion with a serious gun collector, and have any understanding of what this could mean for them, were they to be falsely accused of this horrible crime. In my case, and many of my friends, it could literally mean thousands of $’s worth (in some cases $100,000+ collections) of highly collectible, heirloom firearms, being left to the whims of a property room intern. Would you want your collection of first addition literature (or whatever politically correct sentimental collectible you enjoy) to be treated in a similar fashion?
In other words, you want to ignore the intersection of property rights, the second amendment, and due process. Regardless of how emotional or newsworthy the topic, this is simply unconstitutional.
I can see your point – if an estranged wife decided to give you a hard time she could claim, I guess, CDV and they might take away your collection of civil war muskets, though I also think they might have a better method, like having them locked in a safe at your residence provide you surrender the keys, or they slap an additional lock on it until it’s resolved. But what about nut-boy attorney a couple weeks ago, having a medicated (according to him) moment. He’s threatened his wife and her family multiple times. Let’s say he has a 9-mm new handgun, and a conceal permit. Might it not be a huge leap that he relinquish that weapon and the permit until the divorce is settled? What if the cop in North Charleston is set free on bail, adn has an AR-15 and a Glock at home – should those be left out in the open and available to him.
“No one is arguing that CONVICTED violent CDV offenders should be allowed to keep their guns.”
I doubt that is so. But few anyway.
The numbers cited do not estimate many lived would actually be saved if the right to own a gun is revoked.
Of the 40 CDV gun murders mentioned, how many were committed by people with no prior CDV conviction, and who would still have the legal right to own a gun under this law? And how many gun murders were committed by people with prior CDV convictions who would not have had guns under a law like this?
What’s “centrist” about this irrelevancy?
Stripping certain classes of Criminals from possessing a gun has been the law for years.
Like saying that a many times convicted burgler who has lost his right to possess a gun should have it restored because he didn’t use agun while committing the burglaries.
At least Ms. Kincannon’s name isn’t on that list…yet. Hope she stays far away from that guy.
Isn’t she a DEMOCRAT..???
Hey Idiot, you have SCREWED up our nation…
Until I hear you REPENT, APOLOGIZE…and Totally REVERSE your FAILED ideology…I don’t want to hear a word from you,..You are irrelevant and worthless as a political official, until you get your head out of your @$$…
Yeah…she beat your girl, your fellow loser in crime, the one who gets FEW votes. So STFU and take it. How about you apologize for that awful “blog”?
Haha! No doubt…
Sheri Few Brain Cells and Mia McWrong are both wing nuts. Mia is a left wing nut and Sheri a right wing nut.
Yeah we know…only triangulators like you, Boz and FITS are smart enough to lead…only you’re so F*#king stupid you can only get 2% of the people to vote for your Dumb@$$ politicians, and ignorance-based ideas….
Give me the Conservative any time…and ALL the time…and you won’t have armpit, H#!! holes in this state, like the Dumb@$$#$ like you – and the liberals- result in…
I’ve met Sheri Few before. She’s vapid and devoid of all original thought. If you think FITS, BOZ, et al. are conspiracy nuts with Wiley Coyote theories on how somethings happen, your really should talk to Sheri some of here conspiratorial thoughts border on the insane.
There is a difference in a conservative (Reagan, Bush I and II, Strom Thrumond, Jim DeMint) and a right win nut (Sheri and Company).
Yet FITS is your idol…and John McCain is your god…Save it Dumb@$$…
You people have all the answers….yet you SCREW UP everything you touch…and you’re SCARED to Death to let a Conservative near an office…even after you’ve failed over and over…
How ’bout that…You get to bash me, because your anti-American Dumb@$$ “won.”…meanwhile the F*#king Country is a Disaster…because you dolts vote based on your hate…not anything good….
DISGUSTING people like you in this country make it worse for all…you need your @$$ kicked, you ignorant little F*#king punk….
re: “And if it can help save even one life, isn’t it worth it?”
It absolutely is. Mahatma Gandhi and all (et. al.), not withstanding.
To redeem a single person is to redeem the whole world.
There is a book on it. Somewhere…
http://www.gailhornstein.com/index.htm
If that’s the case, let’s make left hand turns illegal. That would save “even one life.”
Two separate CDVs in Spartanburg yesterday both stabbed to death. No guns involved except the cops killing one dude they busted in on as he was doing the stabbing.
Quick Mia, you need to add to the legislation a clause allowing LE to take someone’s knives and kitchen utdnsils if they are charged with CDV or someobe says they are “afraid” of the person!!!! “If it saves one life…”
Way to Go Mia! At least one person in the House of Representatives has a brain! I guess it has to hit home for some of those idiots to stand up and take notice. If any of them could read – like many who claim to read this blog they would know that this legislation only removes guns AFTER a conviction but you can’t help Stupid! People convicted of DV don’t deserve to have guns EVER but that isn’t even in the damn bill. Stop beating your spouse and you don’t have to worry about it.
I hear around the State House she’s simply known as , “that black bitch” by the older white gentlemen.
One fewer though, now that Jake’s gone.
Squishy, your lack of tack and hatefulness never ceases to amaze me. If you were a kid cartoon, I’d call you “Despicable Me”
Are you retarded or just an idiot? You’d consider me a movie title? I’m leaning that you’re more on the side of retarded, too dumb to know any better.
LOL – good point that I would consider you a movie title!
You know half those old crackers would be chasing that niggra ass across the African plains if they thought they could get a little high yellow action on the side.
You know it. But who really can blame them? Have you seen the white women they are married to?
You have just lost all credibility.
Arm the Wife Beaters!
What a plan. It might fly down at the legion hall though. I’m surprised it’s not a bumpersticker.
Hey – I can carry a gun like any man. I’m just never sure when it’s loaded….lol. I figure if it comes right down to it, I have a heavy piece of metal in my hand that could be used as a weapon ;)
Are there ANY crimes where persons on bail must surrender their guns?
Of course not. Innocent until proven Guilty
They commonly take passports without convictions, or so I read. What’s the difference?
That is so they cannot flee the country. It is not meant for a punishment.
So they cannot shoot their wife. It is not meant for a punishment.
So i’ve read a few comments and wow the level of thinking that goes on in here and around the state is amazing.
First we are all innocent until proven guilty. By we I mean citizens! So taking someones rights because they have been accused, or because they are going thru a divorce is plain out un constitutional and stupid.
The problem with the CDV Law is the vagueness in the requirements to charge someone. The idea that an estranged wife would call and make claims is not far fetched as I take similar reports all the time. The term in the law that states fear of imminent peril it used too widely and puts too many people in jail for a verbal argument. And contrary to popular belief it is not illegal to have an argument or yell and scream. However with the fear of imminent peril element of CDV being so vague it makes arguments illegal.
If we could rein in the requirements to use the different elements of the law, it would be far more effective and we could keep from bogging down the court system with bogus CDV charges. Where as now the law is so vague and so broad it takes a “he yelled at me and I was scared” next thing you know he is in jail having never laid a hand on her and never intended to. Doesnt seem fair to me… maybe it does to others. But thats how our legal system is working these days, and our courts are bogged down as a result taking large amounts of time just to bring a case to trial.
Try breaking what you have to say down to sound bytes. Easier for most to digest.
I applaud Mia for her outspoken views, while I don’t share all of them, she should know that people across the aisle are taking notes and are thankful we have leaders like her speaking out.
Mia…trying to get sense made in S.C. is like trying to build a house out of sand.
Will you stand up? Will you fight against corruption in this state? Or afraid to lose your job? I don’t blame you either way, but that is what it boils down to.
See scstatehouse.gov CDV archives video for Oct. 22nd @ 02;03;30 as told by retired FBI agent, “if law enforcement”, the guns are removed. Recent history: DNR supervisor in Charleston charged with domestic violence. Charges were dropped and he participated in anger management classes. I could go on, but what’s the use.
There was a time that Rep. Lowe and I agreed. We parted ways when he thought it was in the best interest to give guns to all the school teachers. I “thought” I was TEA Part, but I realized, some of their ideas are flat out ….uh…..ridiculous. i.e. Rep. Lowe recommending all teachers have guns? Really?
I “think” I agree with Mia here “In fact, Rep. Phil Lowe tried to take that obsession even further, by proposing that SLED protect these confiscated firearms in a humidity-controlled environment.”
What in the heck is he even talking about? Our TEA Party favorite has lost all sense of reality? if not, someone please explain.
She’s unhinged. I’m on her email list, for some reason. EVERYONE except for her is either corrupt or part of the “Good Ol’ Boy” system – Haley, all Republicans, all Democrats who don’t vote the way she wishes.
And it seems she got lot worse once Darrell Jackston stopped giving her the D.
You did not get on her email list by chance. You either supported her or another democrat who thinks like her and gave your email. Same has happened to me.
I had been on the email list of Steve Benjamin, who gets his lists from Rick Quinn. I didn’t feel the need to get into those details. To me, it was “by chance.”
Yeah – my email is spammed “by chance” too. They look to see where you made contributions and spam the hell out of you.
Since you’re new to SC, I’ll explain it to you. Political hacks sell your email addresses to their candidates.
So Darrell moved on from the healing hands approach to the divine dick approach?
We talk about this stuff day in and day out. My question is when do you act? I don’t want to hear self doubt “I am a failure” – I interpret that to mean you quit. I don’t want to hear we can’t, because quitting is not an option. I don’t care to hear gripes about other representatives unless we have a plan. Who among us will stand up? Are there any Celts, Vikings or simple individuals who are willing to carry the torch? Who is willing to take a stand and more specifically, WHAT, do you stand for? Is it individual rights or rights of the collective, the democracy?
Absolutely! If we outlaw guns, then nobody will be able to get them. Kind of like how nobody can buy illegal drugs.
..or have sex outside of marriage.
“Maybe if we cared as much about protecting life and liberty, as we do property” Statements like this show that Clowns can win elections in South Carolina. I feel bad for the peolple of HD.79