Governor O'Malley, Lt. Governor Brown Honored for Efforts to Stop Domestic Violence
COLUMBIA, MD (October 23, 2009) –Governor Martin O’Malley and Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown were honored today at the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence 2009 Annual Meeting and Awards Luncheon for their work during the 2009 legislative session to remove firearms from the hands of domestic abusers. The legislation passed by the General Assembly this year provides judges with an additional tool to ensure the safety of Maryland’s families by granting them authority to remove weapons from homes early during domestic violence proceedings.
“We’re honored by this distinction, but the real heroism belongs to those that stand up to domestic violence each and every day with the courage to put an end to this senseless crime,” said Governor O’Malley “Last year in Maryland, 75 women, men and children died as a result of domestic violence. Every death or injury from an act of domestic violence is one too many. That’s why Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown and I have worked to pass two important bills that combat domestic violence and protect victims and potential victims of domestic violence here in Maryland.”
“I am honored to receive this award with Governor O’Malley and I gratefully accept it on behalf of the many Maryland families, women and children who are victims and survivors of domestic violence. We have taken proactive efforts to improve our neighbors’ public safety. Still, we must continue to fight to reduce violent crimes committed against women and children,” Lt. Governor Brown said. “Through our partnerships with advocates, victims, hospitals and with all other Marylanders, we can end domestic violence and ensure that no family ever has to experience the tragedies that are, sadly, far too familiar for far too many Maryland families.”
The Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence has been working since 1980 to eliminate domestic violence in Maryland through education, training, and advocacy. As Maryland’s state coalition, the Network works together with local domestic violence programs as well as criminal justice and law enforcement personnel, legal advocates, health care and social service providers, clergy, educators, businesses, community groups, and concerned individuals to promote a coordinated community response to end domestic violence.
“The leadership and commitment of Governor O’Malley and Lt. Governor Brown made a huge difference during the past legislative session in securing the passage of two bills to restrict the possession of firearms by domestic violence offenders,” said Michaele Cohen, Executive Director of the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence. “We believe that this legislation will save lives, and we are enormously appreciative of their efforts.”
In enacting these laws, Maryland not only comes into compliance with Federal Law, but also joins seven other states in which judges are required to order a respondent of a final protective order to surrender all firearms, and twelve states that require judges to order the surrender of all firearms during a temporary protective order. American women who are killed by their intimate partners are more likely to be killed with guns than by all other methods combined. According to the New England Journal of Medicine, compared to homes without guns, the presence of guns in the home is associated with a 3-fold increased homicide risk within the home. The risk increases to 8-fold when the offender is an intimate partner or relative of the victim and is 20 times higher when previous domestic violence exists.
In addition to the firearms legislation, the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention has distributed federal Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds for initiatives to aid in the fight to stop domestic violence and assist the victims of these crimes throughout the state. The forty-five grants to date total $2.3 million.
Since declaring public safety and preventing violent crime as a top priority for the State of Maryland, last year 66 fewer lives were lost than the year prior due to homicide. And this year, there are 40 fewer homicides when compared to the same period one year ago.
