LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Domestic violence is not a trend anyone wants to see go up. However, it's a reality we're been facing here in the Natural State.
Earlier this week, we reported on two women who were killed in separate locations but in similar situations. Now, lawmakers and advocacy groups are sharing their concerns about the troubling trend we've continued to see here in Central Arkansas.
"As we see this trend in domestic violence, homicides, and domestic violence incidents increasing we've got to put a stop to that," said Megan Mcbroome, Director of Development for Women & Children First.
On Monday, Pine Bluff police responded to a shooting outside of Cherry Street Liquor. Witnesses told police a man shot his wife in front of their 8-year-old son. The man later shot and killed himself.
That same day, Hot Springs police reported a shooting on Burchwood Bay road where they found a woman shot and killed. The suspect was then found dead in Jefferson County.
Situations like these are why Arkansas legislators passed the Arkansas Phoenix Act in 2021. The bi-partisan bill addressed the training that law enforcement receives for domestic violence incidents and it also looked at the statute of limitations to report them.
Democrat State Rep. Nicole Clowney explained how despite the progress that has been made, she's still working to make sure our laws are updated to keep up with these situations.
"It's a nonpartisan issue in Arkansas that we need to protect all victims of domestic violence, and I think as we're learning more about what domestic violence looks like we need to make sure that our laws are in line with it," she added.
According to EveryTown for Gun Safety, non-partisan group research shows in 2020, 16 women were fatally shot by an intimate partner in Arkansas and 80% of female intimate partner homicide victims were killed by gunfire.
Numbers like those are what Mcbroome said keep her fighting for change.
"Love should never hurt, and you should never be in a situation where you feel less than, and again, everyone should always live independently from violence, any type of violence," Mcbroome added.
She explained how their shelter offers a number of resources for those who find themselves in a domestic situation.
"Not only are we one of the largest emergency shelters in the state of Arkansas, but we also run a 24/7 statewide crisis hotline. So we know that things are happening in our state not only are we providing emergency shelter if needed, but victims can also reach out to us through the hotline," Mcbroome said. "They can be referred by the police department or a medical staff and once you get into the shelter, we provide counseling and adult education."
She said sharing these resources is a way to pass the baton to others to keep spreading ways to help and being an advocate for change in Arkansas.
"I tell everybody at WCF, we're not afraid to push, we're not afraid to keep talking about domestic violence. Even if it makes you uncomfortable, we're going to keep talking about sexual violence and human trafficking, because if you don't hear us, we're not doing our work, and we know that people in our state, any state, deserve to live independently and free from violence, and that's our mission," Mcbroome said.
For more information on the warning signs of abuse, please click here. You can also reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.