Lawmaker explores bill to help domestic violence victims

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — North Carolina lawmakers are exploring a bill to help protect domestic violence victims.

“Every minute, every hour, every second, I think about my sister,” Genicia Hairston said about her sister. “I think about her every single day.”

[CMPD, city leaders announce plan for center to help domestic violence victims]

Daphne Ellis was stabbed to death by her child's father three years ago.

(Daphne Ellis)

“And he followed her to her job, of all places -- your job,” Hairston said. “It just goes to show you that you don’t... have to be doing wrong to die. If someone could have prewarned her -- given her a heads up -- my sister would still be here today.”

A House bill filed Thursday seeks to offer that warning.

It’s called Allison’s Law, named after a North Carolina woman murdered by her former lover.

“Her mother reached out to me and said, ‘If there’s anything you can do to help, I sure would like to be able to help others who are in a similar situation,’” said Republican Rep. Donny Lambeth, D-75.

If passed, the bill would require domestic violence offenders to wear a tracking device, which applies to people who violated a protective order or are considered to be violent.

If the offender is tracked within the victim's range, both law enforcement and the victim would get a warning.

“If, somehow, there’s a chance that you can save one person’s life from this bill -- one person -- you would be doing the bill justice,” Hairston said.

Cox Media Group