I realise this is my third post in a row on the ongoing American shit-storm. I'm also aware that this is currently at the discussion phase, and in media terms that word can include anything down to the level of "one guy said this and wasn't immediately cast to the pavement by an outraged mob".
Still, it sounds like the discussion went further than that on this occasion. And even if it didn't go very far, and even if this never comes close to becoming enacted, the very fact it's even on the radar scares the absolute crap out of me: in order to save money, Topeka City Council is considering striking the ban on domestic abuse from the city code, so as not to have to pay the costs associated with prosecuting offenders.
It's wouldn't be a complete free-for-all out there, from what I can tell, since the laws regarding more serious levels of violence will remain in place. Obviously, though, that's horribly cold comfort for anyone being effectively told "Don't worry, we'll only tolerate your spouse beating you up to a point".
The United States of America, ladies and gentlemen. Tens of thousands of deaths a year due to lack of health care, thirteen million children below the poverty line, and coming soon: a strictly positive value for the number of times your other half will be allowed to punch you in the face.
(h/t Balloon Juice)
Update: By a vote of 7 to 3, the City Council repealed the local law that makes domestic violence a crime.
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