Bruning attacks domestic violence

Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning delivers his opening remarks Tuesday at the "Improving Community Response to Domestic Violence" seminar at McCook Community College. 19 counties were represented at the conference, which was one of four sponsored by the state attorney general's office by a $475,000 federal grant.

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"No one wants to believe that domestic or sexual violence happens," he said. But the fact is, it happens in our communities everyday, he told a packed crowd at McCook Community College Tuesday.

Bruning was in McCook to present the opening remarks at the "Improving Nebraska's Response to Domestic Violence" conference, attended by representatives from more than 19 counties.

"I think about the children witnessing the abuse -- little boys and girls who grow up with this and think it's okay," he said.

But it's not okay, Bruning asserted and his office is committed in enforcing stricter laws to help stop domestic violence.

Bruning cited that 1 in 8 women in Nebraska will be a victim of rape in their lifetime and that 1 in 6 victims will report the crime to law enforcement.

All too often victims do not report crimes because they feel guilty themselves, he said, or because law enforcement has failed them.

"These women need us," he said, adding that domestic violence "is not a private family matter."

"It is a crime that must be brought to light in order to bring safety to the victims and hold offenders accountable," he said.

Spouses who repeatedly break protection orders leave the victim feeling hopeless, he said.

To make sure batterers are held responsible, Bruning worked to changed the law.

In 2005, LB 713 was passed by the Legislature, he said, that standardized the collection of evidence state wide in rape cases. LB 613, passed in 2004, classified domestic assault as as a distinct crime, separate from other assault cases and included stiffer penalties for those that re offend in a 12-year period.

"We've come along way in the last three years - we've made great progress," he said. But there is still much to be done, he said, in getting the message out that domestic assault will not be tolerated.

"If there's anything our office can do to help, we will do it," he said. "You have my word that I'll continue to fight to protect those who need it."

McCook was second to host the free conference on domestic violence, that was funded by a federal grant through the state attorney's office. The first conference was at Chadron, with the next two tentatively scheduled for Peru and Valentine.