“Protecting Our Families” conference explains proposed domestic violence legislation
Nate Morabito/11 Connects
Domestic violence victims and some Tennessee leaders hope new legislation will protect more families. State Rep. Matthew Hill (R), State Sen. Rusty Crowe (R), and Miss Johnson City Jessica Nixon sponsored a “Protect Our Families” conference in Johnson City Tuesday. The trio is in the process of writing new domestic violence legislation.
At the conference, they revealed details of their proposal to a crowd of experts and victims. They hope to present their legislation during next year’s legislative session.
“We know that we probably won’t get most of this passed this year,“ Nixon, a former domestic abuse victim, said. “We know there’s going to huge fiscal notes. We understand that, but if you don’t take a stand and you don’t make a step in the right direction, there ain’t nothing that’s going to get done.“
According to Rep. Hill, the bill will likely include a new domestic violence charge that would include a sentence of counseling, paid for by the offender. It would also include jail time for repeat offenders. In addition, the legislation would come with automatic temporary restraining orders for offenders after a domestic call.
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Reader Reactions
I agree with miss h. I am very saddened to hear negative comments regarding proposed domestic violence legislation and the negative comments toward Miss Nixon. I work on a daily basis to help victims of domestic violence leave an often dangerous situation. First of all, not all violence is perpetrated by men. No where in the article do I see that men are going to be arrested, rather the perpetrator. The legislation is designed to protect ALL victims of domestic violence, both men and women. Secondly, not every woman who claims domestic abuse are trying to “set up” their husbands or boyfriends. Most are legitimate victims and just seek a way out of an impossible situation. NO ONE DESERVES TO BE HIT. NO ONE DESERVES TO BE ABUSED, whether it is physical, verbal, emotional, sexual. NO ONE! And to commonsense, I am proud of Miss Johnson City, who is more than just a title holder or a beauty queen. I personally know Miss Nixon and she has worked tirelessly for many months on this legislation, kept up a rigorous public appearance schedule, and is a full-time graduate student. Johnson City should be proud to have such an upstanding lady of integrity representing their community.
First of all I just want to say, commonsense, you should have picked a better name. Why does it matter that Miss Johnson City is the one involved in this cause? Secondly, some women may use the system for their own advantage but that is really very rare.
Domestic assault comes in many forms. I myself have been a victim of domestic violence many times. I feel that some people tend to forget that domestic violence is not just a form of physical abuse, but can also be verbal and mental. In many cases it involves all three. It saddens me to see that the only comments about this article were negative. Domestic abuse rates rise every year. Whether it be abuse on a male or female it is wrong.
I strongly support Miss Johnson City and the others who are trying to raise awareness for this terrible problem we have in our society. I only wish that those who have never experienced it could at least empathize with those who have.
MISS JOHNSON CITY?
Give me a break….
So the first one to call 911 will be protected with a restraining prder and the other person automatically guilty.
Men do not stand a chance anymore do they. As a bartender years ago I have heard women brag of how they set their husbands up to get everything they own with claims of abuse. The enlisted girlfriends and old boy friends in their deeds. It is amazing how they feel no guilt just like the men who really abuse women. One told me how her ex boyfriend beat her up and she covered the bruises till after she picked a fight with her husband.
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