Topeka, Kansas considers decriminalizing domestic violence to avoid prosecuting cases

It just doesn't make sense to stop prosecuting violent crime. This is not good, the crimes will only escalate.

Baron, think about who the victim in DV usually is... many of the more conservative states are being run by people that want to go back in time when men were men & women were home, beaten, and pregnant... But that is just how I am seeing things lately.

Shannos, I never thought of that. Why is DV a misdemeanor? Why is any physical assault listed as a misdemeanor?

Conservative philosophy does not contain anything like that, so I cannot but assume that it is a defect of the people in traditionally conservative areas. I am more conservative than liberal, but that doesn't mean I would support this at all.

This has nothing to do with dems or reps guys jesus take a political break. Its about funding.

Baron, although some do not believe it I have conservative thoughts on some things as well, but it just seems to me that these types of things are happening in states that run to the conservative side (or "red" state).

Really, David.... Nothing to do with it being a conservative state. My "liberal" state is also having major funding issues BUT decriminalizing assault was never one of the solutions.

I think it's a negative cultural thing rather than a political one.

I can see that, Baron. But funny how it always works it's way into our government.

Talk about playing hot potato with peoples lives!?! Appalling! Even with their good intentions!

why is domestic violence classed as a misdemeanor in the first place?

Th reality of dv is that impulisive anger instantly regretted happens. I am not standing up for those that hit those that are weaker than they are i am just saying sometimes emotions get the best of people and not all dv situations should be felonies imho.

nica1829

Its all Misdemeanors. Did you read. It just happens to fall in that category for some od reason. It is not political. If your place where you lived said they were not going after ALL Misdemeanors your area would be the same. Not everything is political.

i am not saying that emotional and verbal abuse happens i am just saying that sometimes people dont always hit as dv they hit sometimes out of emotional issues. it happens. and unfortunately often time like a drug abuser they need help jail doesnt always work, but there are levels, it depends on what actually happens it depends.

YES, David I read.... MY point to you is WHY cut funding to anything that affects people being violated. Why not some other place LIKE maybe their expenditures for office supplies? My state cut funding to state parks - that bothered me, but much better than legalizing beating the @!$%# out of someone.

And nice way to try to intimidate, David. The insult fell short though. I won't back down from this. It seems to ME that all this @!$%# happens more in conservative states than liberal ones - just seems to me to be political.

Baron, think about who the victim in DV usually is... many of the more conservative states are being run by people that want to go back in time when men were men & women were home, beaten, and pregnant... But that is just how I am seeing things lately.

As always, there is someone who thinks it's the fault of the victim instead of the abuser. Shame on you. NO ONE deserves to be beaten and conservatives do NOT advocate domestic abuse. They DO NOT "want to go back to a time when women were home and beaten and pregnant", what an asinine statement. Conservatives want people to behave responsibly and stand on their own two feet, no way no how do they advocate violence toward women. If you're seeing things that way it's because you're brainwashed, because it is just plain not true.

Why do we have so many powerful, intelligent, conservative women in politics and business if conservatives were all about keeping women in the kitchen, barefoot and pregnant? Your statement doesn't hold water.

Right, all those women on the Republican side that have already said they will be submissive to their husbands. You mean those POWERFUL women.

I don't blame the victim, but you support a political side that wants women as victims or they would not be lessening the laws on rape, reproductive rights and would be fostering a world where women are equal to men in pay and stature.

Your words don't hold water either, since everything they want to do wants to move women backwards.

I can't believe that you all are turning something as devastating as Domestic Violence into a polictal agenda! Show me a politician or political party that says it's OK, and I'll show you who won't be in office come the next election!

Nica you have obviously been abused before or something. Im 100% against it as well. Not sure if your emotions are taking over your reading skills or what. Where was there Intimidation? And Im agreeing with you Its stupid. But it isnt political. IT IS ALL MISDEMEANORS. I agree that it shouldnt be a Misdemeanor but unfortunately it is. Maybe make it one that is still prosecuted is the answer.

Queenie, it is a political agenda. It shouldn't be BUT it is. None of them will say it is ok, but they change laws (like this article shows) that make it alright. How can you say it isn't political & that they are not ok with it? Just like the changes in the rape laws to keep women for getting abortions from a date rape. Most of those occur in "red" states. Is this a coincidence? I think not.

Oh, I don't know, David. Could be your statement "DID YOU READ"? But that's just me. All misdemeanors or not - funny how 'Blue" states find other places to cut & "red" states find only the protection of the masses to cut.

Its a county not a state that is doing it.

Yes, David, you are right - you are so right. I have never been sooooo wrong. All these laws being pushed through against women (not just this one) has nothing whatsoever to do with political agendas. Oh dear me - whatever should I do?

AND by the way... IT IS THE CITY that the article is talking about - DID YOU READ??

Sorry, Shannos, but I just can't stand that. I will leave for now. I'll chat with you later.

And a City Lies where.....In a county.......I dont get what the hell you dont understand....They are not going to Enforce ANY misdemeanors. If you said they are specifically picking DV and no other misdemeanors youd be right....Funny part is Im agreeing with you that it needs to stay. But then I guess this is an attack on Jaywalkers on people possessing pot drivers without licenses god the list of misdemeanors is so long I would need 100 pages to list them.

My point is it just happens to fall under a misdemeanor.

My point is it just happens to fall under a misdemeanor.

Perhaps that needs to change. I don't live in that area so I don't have a pony in the race, I just wonder how long before other cash strapped cities and counties are going to do the same thing.

No davie YOU don't get it. this IS teabagger and repub public policy in a nutshell, NO taxes for public safety.

And, if you think domestic violence is the ONLY VIOLENT "misdeamnor" that WON'T be prosecuted this policy, you can include vehicular assault and battery, simple assualt and battery, and several other crimes that INCLUDE the THREAT or actual ACT of violence against another human being, and of course, nearer and dearer to the heart of teabaggers and repubs, all the misdemeanor charges against PROPERTY, in VANDALISM, that WON'T be prosecuted.

And, as reality and study after study has shown, if you let the little "misdemeanor" stuff slide, the anti-scoial elements of society start thinking they can get away with and start committing the bigger stuff.

So yes davie and baron, this is the result of YOUR "vision" of taxes and public policy - the teabagger/gated society vision in which you get "justice" if you CAN PAY FOR IT.

It is political, Republicans have always been anti-Women, they think a Woman's primary role is to function as a brood mare for the state, but they sure love their Fetuses Hey Joe Republican try getting a Fetus to wash the @!$%# stains out of your underwear.

This post inspired by George Carlin.

You guys are speaking from emotion. Im stating Facts.

If I saw some guy smacking around a Woman or child Id beat his ass. My point is they were not going after just DV laws. This will effect much more then just DV laws.

ryoushi12

My dreams of taxes..... LMAO usual Far lefty(Democrats are not the same as the far left) . If I disagree with you Im a Far righty when in fact Im agreeing with you 100% but emotionally you cannot see that and the name calling begins. Im for closing all loop holes for Corps and Taxing people over a million dollars. But Im typing what i said not out of Ideology or or emotion. Just what is stated. Its all Misdemeanors. Is it not all of them from what was posted?

Should DV be more then a Mis hell ya....Do we need to change this...Hell ya. But to blame one side over this is just plain dumb. Here in Oregon and Washington state they have cut free healthcare to women welfare for women and now WA state is about to cut much more welfare ect........ These are Liberal run states Dont see you guys posting that. Its both sides and their all crooks.

Top 10 most poorest Cities in the US have been run by Democrats for 2 decades some more. Do I see you bitching about that. Take off the Blinders and look out your own window. Washington needs an Enma.

No wasnt talking on your post :) Just what people read out of it. Its an emotional thing DV is so I understand how they feel. I just try to leave as many emotions out of Debates.

I can understand the emotion. Even if it does not affect me personally I am outraged by the attempts to deprecate or devalue women, and unfortunately many of us see it coming from the far right. It feels like an attack and it tends to get our ire up. Rightfully so.

Maybe the tides will finally turn and women will start killing abusive men, instead of turning them back out into society as divorcees.

>:)

I wouldn't count on it River. As a survivor of domestic violence, I can say that these men have their victims brainwashed to the point where they think that they can't survive without their men. The men take everything away from the women, their money, their power, their self-esteem. Most of these women are even afraid to swing back for fear that the beating they will get AFTER that will be worse than the one they are getting now.

It's very good to see you here speaking up and speaking out, Queenie. I, too, have been a battered wife, as well as a battered child, and I can identify all to well with what you are saying. I do know, however, that I was able to reach a very cold place, one that enabled me to damn every single soul that got in my way when I was ready to put an end to it, because no one else could and would. I hope that women, (and all victims) everwhere learn to stand strong for themselves.

Women need to know that other women and many men will help us if need be. This heinous move has the potential to blow up in the faces of the hooligans deciding that Domestic Violence cases should be ignored. Too many of us have been abused by men and if we have to do another sixties movement, so be it.

js-445607

Women need to know that other women and many men will help us if need be.

That is what I've preached for years, to our daughters, to our daughter in laws, to their friends. You get into a relationship where you're being abused, get ahold of SOMEBODY. I don't speak for everyone, but I know quite a few men who get real pissed seeing a woman or child being abused. There are some of us who just don't care, we'll do what we have to.

To the people of Topeka, Lord help you.

In the 80's my house was a safe place for children. There was a sign in the window they could recognize as a house with a responsible adult that they could depended upon in need. There were restrictions for anyone that wanted to be a safe house but all in all the restrictions were understandable and fair. Perhaps we need something like this for abused women and children. The abuser wouldn't know which house the abused chose so it would be pretty simple to get the victim to a shelter or hospital. I also wonder if these window signs would deter abusers in some manner.

Topeka is in for a lot of trouble.

You're right, not funny.

But you know there are people out there who think that way.

Why not legalize rape? Pedophilia? Child abuse & neglect? Elder Abuse & neglect? Murder?

Let's see which Conservative "Red" state will twist these into something "Christian"

Thank you, Susi for seeing that this is a "red" state type move.

What about the PURPLE states? Where do they come into play?

Queenie

I am sure Florida is next.

Like I asked in another post.....is this some sort of weird competition between states to see which one can put out the most ignorant of all laws?

Hey, I just found out that my home state of California allows (legally) 1st cousins to marry yet as Liberal and tolerant as the state is as a whole, gay marriage isn't legal.

WTF?

Unfortunately, it only takes ONE state to start a wave of changes. Witness the Governors of Wisc, Maine, Mass., Florida, Ohio, etc. when the R/Tp Governors took over. Scary stuff! :-(

I agree 100% with you. But please read my first post. I have friends (GUYS) that have had the piss scratched and bruised from women as well. It goes both ways. But most guys would never call the cops.

DV should be the misdemeanor they keep. Get rid of the traffic and Drug ones and theyll be plenty of money for DV cases.

Any domestic abuse is wrong and should be a criminal offense.

So should the lack of common sense that is running rampant around this country.

Sorry, but if I am hit I hit back......at that point it is about survival and not giving any more power behind that punch or animal throwing it.

Trust me, I've been there.

Looks like some "Christians" were fed after midnight........

Do they seriously hate women THIS MUCH?

I mean, it is so overt that I almost cannot believe it..........almost!

Can you imagine what the theocracy would look like?

Hate implies there is emotion there.

These people are all but indifferent towards women.

Topeka is a pretty big city and it is going to be interesting to see how they are able to prosecute DV.

You are being beaten who do you call?

I would call 2 people.

Smith & Wesson.

Well then Susi, that would not be a misdemeanor and you'd be prosecuted!

But, your defense would be marvelous!

Like I have said.

I've been hit and in that moment it was either grovel like a scared puppy or hit back.

I am neither scared or a puppy.

:)

If no one will defend me....it is up to me to defend myself.

Susi- "Your Honor, I am neither scared nor a puppy. Your court system would not get rid of my abuser by prosecuting him, therefore, it was left to two friends of mine to make sure I was able to defend myself"

The Judge- Charged dismissed!!

;-)

:)

lol

And as my boyfriend says.......

I rather be judged by twelve than carried out by 6...to which I add.....and give power to 1 who doesn't deserve it.

Not just abusers but any man out there that feel that dominion over women is his birthright and he should be able to treat her like chattle and discipline at his discretion.

Well, between Kansas, and the recent action in Tennessee where a 96 year old woman was denied the right to vote because her married name didn't match her birth certificate, this after she had been voting for over 70 years, and AFTER a teabagger law was put inplace to restrict voting rights, I think most intelligent women should see that teabagger men look at women thru the same prism as Saudi men, and have the same plans for them.