Peach Tree Times

Rep. Houston Gaines (R-Athens) says a new Georgia law that expands existing protections for victims in abusive relationships will help victims apply for protective orders.

Georgia's HB 231, which recently went into effect, expands existing protections to victims by now allowing individuals who are or used to be dating someone, or were in a relationship that resulted in pregnancy, to be protected under the new law, WTOC reported.

HB 231, written by Gaines, expands protective orders to victims of stalking and domestic violence victims who are or were dating, and to those in a relationship that results in pregnancy, according to the National Law Review.

Cheryl Branch, executive director of Safe Shelter, told WTOC that domestic violence victim protections did not apply to those which HB 231 protects. The previous law, she said, "leaves out a lot of people. People in dating violence, dating situations where there’s been violence. Former boyfriend and girlfriends.”

Rep. Mandi Ballinger (R-Canton) told Peach Tree Times that HB 231 will help in abusive dating relationships, as protective orders are the only legal means for victims to seek protection.

"That is the only legal way to create separation between an abuser/stalker," Ballinger said. "It allows the victim to physically remove themselves from their horrific situation."

Residents of Georgia can also help and support the fight against domestic violence.

 "They can educate themselves. Understand victims, and why they stay in horrific situations," Ballinger said. "Donate or volunteer with their local domestic violence shelter or sexual assault center."

"A bill to be entitled an Act to amend Article 7 of Chapter 5 of Title 16 and Article 1 of Chapter 13 of Title 19 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to stalking and granting of relief by superior courts, respectively, so as to expand the applicability of protective orders involving victims of stalking; to revise the definition of family violence to include certain acts between persons through whom a past or present pregnancy has developed or persons in a past or present dating relationship for the granting of protective orders and other relief; to provide for definitions; to require the court to make certain findings prior to granting protective orders alleging dating relationships; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes," the bill states.

Statistics of domestic violent victims are alarming. Approximately 20 people per minute are physically abused by a domestic partner, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. One in every four women, and one in every nine men, have reportedly experienced stalking, sexual violence or severe intimate partner physical violence. NCADV also reports that one out of every seven women and 25 men has been severely injured by a partner.