[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 144 (Thursday, October 6, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 6, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                         TO STAY OR NOT TO STAY

                                 ______


                         HON. NEIL ABERCROMBIE

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, October 5, 1994

  Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, ``To Stay or Not to Stay'' is a video 
produced by the Hawaii Domestic Violence Clearinghouse and Legal 
Hotline describing the lives of four women in Hawaii who were victims 
of domestic violence. Two left and lived. Two left and died.
  One woman stayed until her husband threatened to kill her baby. She 
left, struggled and eventually created a new life for herself and her 
child. One left her boyfriend after living with him for 4 months. He 
shot her when she gave him a ride home one night. Another woman stayed 
with her husband until her children witnessed the violence. Divorced 
for 2 difficult and dangerous years, she says her escape was worth the 
struggle. Another left her violent husband three times. Each time she 
left he pursued her relentlessly. Afraid for her life, she went into 
hiding and planned an escape from Oahu. Her estranged husband found her 
and shot her to death 3 days before she planned to leave.
  Life circumstances and different realities make the question, we so 
often ask, ``why did she stay'' difficult to answer. We need to provide 
the resources and support for victims of domestic violence to make a 
choice clear and safe.

                          ____________________