At the Utah State Capitol, it seems lawmakers believe the Second Amendment trumps a woman’s right not to be beaten up by the man she’s dating.
Rep. David Litvack, D-Salt Lake City, proposed legislation that would let people who are the victims of domestic violence in a dating situation obtain protective orders. Currently, the law only allows spouses and ex-spouses to get restraining orders filed against their abusers.
But the measure went down to defeat, mainly because the ultraconservative members of the Cowboy Caucus were afraid that the accused’s right to own a gun would he harmed. Their logic is that a woman could file a complaint falsely, and these lawmakers wouldn’t want to see someone lose their gun rights on such a spurious charge.
While there’s a possibility a woman could make a false domestic violence accusation, there is also a good chance that a piece of space debris will come down and kill you as you read these words. The point is, it is highly unlikely. Anybody who has followed domestic violence issues knows there is no epidemic of women filing false charges. Rather, the problem is women who refuse to seek help to escape abusive relationships. When a woman seeks a restraining order, there is more than adequate evidence that a crime has been committed. The chances of a false accusation are remote.
The objection raises an interesting question: At what point should we take guns away from pigs who think women should be used as punching bags or treated as property? Must we wait until this so-called man decides to switch from his hands or a blunt instrument to a gun before we decide he’s too irresponsible to have access to deadly weapons? Short tempers or anti-social behavior and firearms nearby are about as safe a mix as gasoline cans and lit candles. The best course is to let the order be issued, the guns confiscated and not give the guns back until these people can prove they are fit to live as responsible citizens in a civilized society.
Any man who beats up a woman he claims to love, whether they’re married or just dating, has forfeited his right to own guns or even to walk freely in society. One would hope that a woman’s right to be safe trumps a lunatic’s right to own a gun.
Unfortunately, in Utah, the lunatics seem to be running the Legislature.
