Will it take a tragedy for action?

To the Editor,

What do the following have in common: The Bastille Day tragedy in Nice, France; the mass killings at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando; and Robert Lewis who killed three and wounded nine people at a Planned Parenthood Clinic? The obvious answer is that they are all men, but more importantly is that they all had a previous history of domestic violence prior to their killing rampages.

Psychology Today, reports that the link between domestic partner violence and mass shootings is staggering, “In 57 percent of mass shootings between 2009 and 2014 the perpetrator had killed an intimate partner.”

House Bill-5510 and Senate Bill-0405 are critical in preventing domestic abusers from killing their partners. The statistics show the connection, but the devastation to families and communities can never be reconciled and undone. These bills will save the lives of innocents and may also prevent a mass shooting from occurring in our State. For the last four years, our legislators have been negligent; must a tragedy occur before our representatives act ethically and rationally. Will they care this year?

Take care, give care and be present.

Tom Wojick

Cranston