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So Little Value

Voters in the 33rd State Senate District need to be aware of State Senator Art Linares, Jr. (R)’s recent vote against a law to protect victims of domestic violence. Here are the facts.

In Connecticut, between one and two women are murdered, on the average, every month by their domestic partners. The evidence shows that women in abusive relationships are five times more likely to be killed if their abuser has access to firearms.

The most dangerous period for a battered woman is right after she seeks help.

The law allows the removal of firearms from a household once the victim obtains a permanent restraining order, but this leaves a dangerous gap: the period after a woman seeks help but before a protective order is granted.

In May, a law was passed to close this loophole. It authorizes a court to require an alleged abuser to relinquish his or her firearms temporarily. It then requires a full hearing on a restraining order within seven days. If a permanent order is not granted, the gun owner immediately gets the firearms back.

The new law was passed with broad bipartisan support. It was favored by a tidal wave of testimony from numerous groups including leaders of the police community and the non-partisan League of Women Voters of Connecticut. More than 20 other states have similar laws.

Linares voted against the law—even after it was revised to accommodate gun owners concerns, by reducing the removal period to a mere seven days.

I am dismayed that Linares continues to place so little value on the importance of protecting women and the most vulnerable among us. I encourage voters to chose Norm Needleman as our next 33rd District state senator. Norm represents my values.

Nancy S. Walsh

Old Saybrook