When recording artist Chris Brown was convicted of felony domestic violence charges, what did he do? Most cynically-smart Hollywood types would have crawled under a rock out in the middle of nowhere for awhile. But Brown was ready for more bling, and put out a new album instead.
To their credit, many (former) fans and radio stations said, "no, thanks," to this embarrassing and shameless attempt to cash in on the worst possible publicity.
Now, the still-rich Brown is a bit peeved that he's on the verge of irrelevancy. He's posted an audio message online (that's about as web 2.0 as Montgomery County's website!).
"Bring me back," Brown pleads.
"Some radio stations aren't playing my records," he said. "They're not being that supportive and I wouldn't expect them to. But it's on the fans...It's in your power to bring me back."
"It won't be possible for me to be an artist if I don't have support from people who give me an artist outlet," Brown said. "I can't be an underground mixtape artist."
Oh yes, he can! Chris Brown should be an underground mixtape artist. Or at least go "underground" to talk and meet with victims of domestic violence living in shelters across America. He doesn't seem to understand that his mostly-female fans don't want to hear from a man who beats women up.
Maybe Chris Brown would be more warmly received in the Maryland General Assembly. There, a majority of legislators don't feel that domestic violence is much of a problem. Once again, the lawyer lobby (which includes many legislators themselves) has killed a bill that would have made it easier for women to obtain protective orders against domestic abusers like Chris Brown.
The bill would have reduced the requirement for a protective order from "clear and convincing evidence" to "a preponderance of the evidence."
This would be one of the most effective things that could be done to prevent domestic violence tragedies. And it has failed again.
We hear from the local media, and legislators themselves, that only they have the birthright, divine right, and elusive "experience" to serve in Rockville, Annapolis and Washington. No challengers need apply. They don't know how the legislative bodies "work," and would be unable to get anything done.
Hogwash.
A simple compromise was never even posited by these "master legislators." Why not make a deal: pass the protective order bill, while allowing protective orders to be stricken from an innocent person's record once cleared, and eliminating the right of judges to seize guns when the standard is only "a preponderance of the evidence."
The latter two concepts - allowing falsely-accused citizens to carry a scarlet letter of an unjustified protective order, and seizing guns in violation of the U.S. Constitution - do nothing to help victims of domestic violence.
Easier access to protective orders could do everything to reduce the number of domestic violence fatalities in Maryland each year. And if we are going to make it easier to get these orders, and save lives, we can certainly afford to lighten up on the falsely-accused. Let the justice system take its course. Those who may be innocent will be exonerated. But we know that many women and children have lost their lives in Maryland, simply because the standard of evidence for protective orders is too high.
Thus we could have a fair compromise between victim advocates, and the defense attorney lobby, to achieve a beneficial result guaranteed to save lives.
These are the moments when the ineptness of our elected officials is revealed. And when the hidden agendas - such as gun control - behind some domestic violence "advocates'" efforts come to light.
I will have a not-so-hidden agenda this year: proposing a set of proactive solutions to domestic violence. Proactive, because I want to stop domestic violence before it happens. Too many are focused solely on what to do after a woman has become a victim. While that is important, and will be part of my agenda, it cannot be the only priority.
If the state won't act, we need to do all we can at the county level.
It's time for our legislators to stop partying in Annapolis, and start solving problems.
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