As Maine’s legislative session draws to a close, the faces of Maine’s people have been distorted by political games. I ask you to take notice of LD 2116, An Act to Provide Protection for Victims of Domestic Violence, a straightforward, do-the-right-thing bill, based on a successful New Hampshire law that was killed in the Maine House.

I wonder if the simplicity of the bill, its sponsorship and the organizations that supported it were considered so threatening to opponents that they orchestrated this political tug-of-war to defeat the bill. Or was it a case of a glitch in the process – after much political wrangling and negotiations legislators were so confused by all the give and take that the bill was mistakenly killed?

In truth, neither of these, or other, theories really matters. Instead what matters and what is at stake are our mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, cousins, neighbors, the women and children in our lives who just want a happy and safe world to live in, just like you and me.

Domestic violence is a major heath threat to Maine communities. Knowing that with little exception, over the past 20 years, every year, more than half of the homicides in Maine are domestic violence-related, and of those at least half of the murder weapons are guns, I take legislation designed to assist people affected by domestic violence very seriously.

Instead of blaming victims for staying in abusive relationships we need to be a state that takes action. One way to achieve this is to pass laws to support victims and help people stay safe.

I hope the close of this legislative session reminds us all that there are real people who rely on Maine laws to help them stay safe from harm, whether on our highways or in our homes.

Gretchen Ziemer

Advocate training and legislative coordinator

Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence

Bangor