Domestic Abusers Go Free in Topeka

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A bitter argument over money in Topeka, Kan., means that city and county authorities have neglected to prosecute or charge people suspected of domestic battery since Sept. 8.

In other words, the local justice system has spent a month effectively sending the message that misdemeanor domestic assault will go unpunished--at least for now.

...

Next week, the council will vote on a measure that will strip domestic battery from a list of crimes that are illegal in the city.

That's right, folks. Wanna batter your significant other? Go to Topeka! The place where politics matters more than safety.

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The vote is a tactical bid to force the county to take those cases on again.

City Council member Larry Wolgast told The Lookout he's opposed to that tactic, since there's no guarantee that the county will actually prosecute domestic battery cases just because the city decriminalizes the offense.

So, if the city won't prosecute, and the county won't prosecute...

Yep, that's essentially legalizing beating the person you're supposed to love.

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He added that the most severe cases of domestic battery would be written up as felonies, which are still prosecuted by the county.

Oh, good. We can relax.

Wait...

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"They need to invest in headstones, because these women are going to end up in cemeteries," Dombrowski told the station. She said she was hit with a crowbar in a domestic violence incident classified as a misdemeanor 16 years ago.

That's a misdemeanor? What's a felony? Killing your spouse, barbecuing them, and feeding them to the kids?

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In Kansas, domestic battery is defined as "intentionally or recklessly causing bodily harm by a family or household member against a family or household member," or intentionally physically contacting a family member in a "rude, insulting or angry manner." The third time someone is convicted of domestic battery within five years, the offense becomes a felony.

So if you only hit your spouse twice with a crowbar, it's still a misdemeanor.

Stay classy, Topeka.

I stand by my asserition that the South should have been allowed to split. Then shit like this wouldn't be happening in a First-World nation

the asylum wrote:

I stand by my asserition that the South should have been allowed to split. Then shit like this wouldn't be happening in a First-World nation

I don't think Kansas can really be considered the South.

I'm Canadian, gimme a break -_-'

You want to know what's sad? I'm from Kansas, get down to Kentucky you damn Canadian.

Wait, but assaulting a stranger is still illegal, isn't it? So how does knowing the person who knocked your teeth in mitigate the fact that they just knocked your teeth in?

Azzandra wrote:

Wait, but assaulting a stranger is still illegal, isn't it? So how does knowing the person who knocked your teeth in mitigate the fact that they just knocked your teeth in?

Don't you know? Once a woman is in a relationship with a man, he owns her. He can do anything he wants with his property. After all, she chose to be with him, so she chose to be attacked by him.[/sarcasm]

the asylum wrote:

I stand by my asserition that the South should have been allowed to split. Then shit like this wouldn't be happening in a First-World nation

As much as I agree with your sentiment, I should point out that it's not just the south, unfortunately. The stupid's in the water supply down here.

Reidmar wrote:

You want to know what's sad? I'm from Kansas, get down to Kentucky you damn Canadian.

We were neutral in the Civil War.

Schmuck.

Azzy wrote:

Wait, but assaulting a stranger is still illegal, isn't it? So how does knowing the person who knocked your teeth in mitigate the fact that they just knocked your teeth in?

From what I've heard about this law, it doesn't.

The only difference is now it's Assault or Assault and Battery or Aggravated Assault instead of what they used to arrest people for.

Right?

I'm not surprised at this. All of Kansas is crazy. They'd have to be with Westboro Church taking residence in their state.

TheIan wrote:

I'm not surprised at this. All of Kansas is crazy. They'd have to be with Westboro Church taking residence in their state.

Yes, because one congregation in one city in the entire state is enough to brand the entire state. There's a Scientology building in Clearwater. Does that contaminate the entire state? Do I have to start wearing a gold Scientology symbol on my shirts now?
And as far as crazy religious extremists go, they're little league-rs. They don't kill people or lay mines. They don't send their members in explosive vests to night clubs. Scientology is scarier than they are.

For a Brony with the stated goal to "Love and tolerate the shit out of you", that's surprisingly intolerant

And even if the people of Kansas decided to match intolerance with intolerance, what can you do? They have their first amendment right to be assholes.
“With the first link, the chain is forged. The first speech censored, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied, chains us all irrevocably.”

Willy wrote:

There's a Scientology building in Clearwater. Does that contaminate the entire state?

Good question. Is that Scientology building the reason Florida is a laughing stock (FLOLida), or is it the meth labs, the Cubans, the pedophiles, and the fact that they can count to potato that makes the state a laughing stock?

Willy wrote:

For a Brony with the stated goal to "Love and tolerate the shit out of you", that's surprisingly intolerant

Idiot liberals make a point of tolerating everyone who doesn't disagree with them.

Willy wrote:

“With the first link, the chain is forged. The first speech censored, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied, chains us all irrevocably.”

What idiot said that? One link doesn't make a chain. One link is a loop of metal. It's a fucking ring. You need at least two links to make a chain.

Putz.

William Shakespeare wrote:

TheIan wrote:

I'm not surprised at this. All of Kansas is crazy. They'd have to be with Westboro Church taking residence in their state.

Yes, because one congregation in one city in the entire state is enough to brand the entire state.

Has WGW lost its sense of humor or something? Dude, 'twas a JOKE. A lame joke, but still.

Mikey Go WOOGA wrote:

Willy wrote:

“With the first link, the chain is forged. The first speech censored, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied, chains us all irrevocably.”

What idiot said that? One link doesn't make a chain. One link is a loop of metal. It's a fucking ring. You need at least two links to make a chain.

Putz.

(Snort)

Sorry, sorry, must not laugh at Mikey's jokes, I know. Still, he has a point. Also, quoting Star Trek.

When it comes to the WBC though, they're not really harmless, and neither is Scientology. They're cults, and the abuse they inflict on their members is scary. Their religion is protected under our laws though, and they have the right to be complete bastards until they break the laws in a way that can be proven in court.

On the subject at hand, what the fuck? I just don't see where this makes sense. Domestic abuse is still assault. It doesn't matter if it's your spouse, they still assaulted you.

Electron Blue wrote:

William Shakespeare wrote:

TheIan wrote:

I'm not surprised at this. All of Kansas is crazy. They'd have to be with Westboro Church taking residence in their state.

Yes, because one congregation in one city in the entire state is enough to brand the entire state.

Has WGW lost its sense of humor or something? Dude, 'twas a JOKE. A lame joke, but still.

Eh, I thought people derping over hyperbole and generally *not getting it* was par for the course as well. It's part of the humor!

Lapin wrote:

When it comes to the WBC though, they're not really harmless, and neither is Scientology. They're cults, and the abuse they inflict on their members is scary. Their religion is protected under our laws though, and they have the right to be complete bastards until they break the laws in a way that can be proven in court.

The WBC is more like a sect* (they're an offshoot connected to an established group rather than a totally new group). The connection keeps them from being a cult (which would imply a breakaway) and the derivative nature keeps them from being a new religious movement.

Still assholes, though. And Scientology, yeah, probably gonna have to go with cult on that one. And both are far from harmless to members or to those outside their communities. The WBC is definitely scary, mostly because they represent a really striking us/them view on the world and no concern for the repercussions of that message. Even if they're not physically violent, their mindsets are dangerous.



*Yes, yes, I know. Piddly differences, but I had to wade through all of their miserable, hateful, poorly-managed websites for a term paper, and dammit, I'm going to use the material.