My name is Cheryl Robb-Welch, and I am the CEO of the Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. MOCADSV represents almost every domestic and sexual violence service provider in the state. Thank you to the bill’s sponsor, Representative Del Taylor, for recognizing the gap in the law that continues to threaten the lives of victims of domestic violence, and the people who try to help them.
Like many of you on the committee, in a prior life I was in law enforcement. During my time, I was a 911 dispatcher and then a deputy sheriff.
In research studies conducted by the Violence Policy Center and Everytown, Missouri has been as high as third in the nation per capita to population in gun related homicides of women. Most recently we are ranked 6th.[i] We also know that in almost half the instances of mass shootings the perpetrator also shot an intimate partner or family member. Lastly, as of data posted seven days ago, more than 4 million women have reported being threatened with a gun by their partner.[ii]
People tend to talk about domestic violence as a word without a nuance of meaning, or a phrase for something they don’t want to talk about. Domestic violence is thought of as a single incident, an arrest, or during a court process. There is not enough focus on what it means in the moment to the victims.
Many of you on the committee have past experience in law enforcement and the justice system, and likely have your own memories of responding to a call of domestic violence. I ask you to think back to those calls. For those who may not have, I’d like to share an experience that has stayed with me through the years.
During the end of my law enforcement career I responded to the calls for assistance, but one of my earliest experiences of working with a victim of domestic violence was while dispatching, and being on the phone with someone as they experienced the moment-by-moment fear of death at the hands of their husband.
I worked for a sheriff’s department during a time period when very often there was only one officer on duty at night to cover the entire county. It was late in the night when I took a call from a terrified woman who said her husband had been threatening to kill her, and he was now outside the house with at least one of his guns. Shortly after dispatching officers, she quietly said, “He is in the house.” In the intervening time that it took for officers to arrive, I listened to her panic, and assisted her in locating a hiding spot in an upstairs room, as far from the front door as she could get. We stayed on the phone together as she cried, as she tried to calm her breathing so she could be as quiet as possible. And then she fell silent. She whispered, “He is on the stairs.”
She was fortunate that officers arrived on the scene before he made it to the second floor. In her fear and relief that officers were on the scene she told me she heard him run from the house, and then- she hung up on me. As a dispatcher, I continued to wait anxiously with fear that had now become my own because now I had officers, my friends, who were looking for an armed individual somewhere on the surrounding wooded property.
In reality, the time spent on the entire call and dispatching of the scene was probably no more than an hour. I can tell you that if felt much, much longer. The terror that she conveyed was palpable, and has never left me. That call was a single moment of domestic violence. I hadn’t experienced the fear and violence that led to that incident, to that day. I did share her confidence that he intended to shoot and kill her that night.
The presence of a gun in a home that is under the control of someone who uses violence has an impact on so many. It affects the victim, their children, emergency personnel who have to respond, and advocates who work with victims after the incident. The abusive person’s threats are amplified when a gun is used to frighten, coerce, and threaten everyone in the household.
If we flip the script from, “Why does the victim stay?” and instead ask why does the violent person in the home find it acceptable to, quite literally, routinely put a gun to the head of the person they profess to love and tell them, “This might be the day I kill you. You will never see it coming. But, if you leave me – you should know that I will definitely kill you.” Advocates hear this from victims again, again, and again. They deal personally with the aftermath of hearing that victims have been stalked relentlessly, ambushed and murdered in the parking lots of where they work, murdered in their homes, in their front yards, at their parent’s homes, and in front of their children. The threat of violence is real, and it is constant. The risk of homicide increases exponentially when a gun is allowed to be in the hands of an abusive partner.
The provisions in this bill, and bills like it, occur after an individual has had an opportunity to have a hearing in front of a judge for a full Order of Protection or after a conviction of a class A misdemeanor domestic violence and/or stalking. This is not a random decision to remove someone’s guns. Rather this is a tool for judges when a person’s own violent actions warrant the removal of guns to make their family and community safer.
Victims, and their advocates, have been asking and waiting for more than 40 years for guns to be taken out of the hands of abusive and violent people.
I beg of you to be the ones who finally put victim’s lives first.
[i] https://vpc.org/when-men-murder-women/ Violence Policy Center, Retrieved 04.26.2023
[ii] https://everytownresearch.org/issue/domestic-violence/#by-the-numbers, Retrieved 04.26.2023
Each year, April is recognized as Sexual Assault Awareness Month. This year, the Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence (MOCADSV) is launching an awareness campaign to educate Missourians of their rights under the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Bill of Rights. This bill initially passed in 2020, but required some legislative fixes that led to a slower rollout of any awareness raising 
campaigns.
The Sexual Assault Survivors’ Bill of Rights (SASBR) enshrines into law important rights for survivors of sexual assault including the right to consult with an advocate of a rape crisis center, be offered a shower and fresh set of clothing – free of charge, have an interpreter, in the language of their choice, to help communicate, and more.
To continue raising awareness of the rights of sexual assault survivors, and recruit much-needed hospital advocate volunteers, MOCADSV developed a series of awareness posters
highlighting key aspects of the SASBR available, at no cost, to the general public on our website.
In addition to the current need for hospital advocates, the 2024 implementation of the Sexual Assault Nurse Examination telehealth network will lead to an even greater increase in the demand for these volunteers. MOCADSV has created these posters along with a social media campaign encouraging Missourians to connect with local agencies to become volunteer hospital advocates. We know that as sexual assault forensic exams become more widely available, and survivors of sexual violence become aware of their rights under the SASBR, many domestic violence and sexual assault service providers will be called upon for hospital advocacy.
Order yours through our store today.
As 2025 begins, MOCADSV is excited to announce that we have begun production of Season 4 of our interview and discussion-style podcast, MOmentum for Change: Voices of the Missouri Movement. Our podcast features advocates and thought leaders from across Missouri who are united under our shared goal of ending rape and abuse in Missouri.
Last season, we debuted changes to MOCADSV’s podcast, including a new title and graphics. The name change celebrates our shared efforts for social change throughout the Missouri Movement, and aligns with our public policy motto, “We change laws. We change lives.” In addition to the new name, Season 3 debuted a new cover page and graphics that incorporate the colors teal and purple in recognition of domestic and sexual violence awareness.
The podcast is produced by MOCADSV staff from monthly discussions recorded by host Nora Mosby. Production for Episode 1 of Season 4 has begun; the new episode will be released later this month. The new season and all prior seasons of MOmentum for Change are available on Spotify or Apple Podcasts today. MOmentum for Change is also available on the MOCADSV YouTube Channel, where you can also stream episodes from previous seasons. Subscribe to receive new episodes monthly.
At the end of 2022, President Biden passed a large spending bill that included significant increases to many funding sources that support victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, dating violence, and harassment. MOCADSV thanks our national coalition partners, champions in Congress, and advocates across the country for their work in getting these important increases to funding across the finish line.
Some highlights from this spending package include:
- Record-breaking increase in funding for the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) program, which was increased by $37.5 million
- Sexual Assault Services Program (SASP) increased by $24.5 million to a total of $78.5 million
- Rape Prevention & Education Program (RPE) increased by $5 million to a total of $61.75 million
- $170 million toward DNA initiatives that include sexual assault forensic exam kit testing and sexual assault forensic exam program grants
- VAWA Culturally Specific Programs increased by $1 million to a total of $11 million
- VOCA cap is set at $1.9 billion with no VAWA transfer
- A number of increases to vital VAWA programs including: the Sexual Assault Services Program, the Transitional Housing program, Legal Assistance for Victims, the Rural Grant Program, as well as investments in newer programs like the LGBTQ Specific Services Program
For more information on the domestic and sexual violence funding passed in the Fiscal Year 2023 appropriations bill, check out the information put out by the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) and the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence (NAESV).
It’s not news to some that in communities throughout Missouri there have been restrictions on access to emergency contraception by faith-based hospitals and pharmacies. MOCADSV is gravely concerned that if more hospitals and pharmacies stop providing access to emergency contraception the ramifications of these decisions will again be placed on the shoulders of victims who need the best from Missouri, its decision-makers, their communities, and their healthcare providers. Sending a victim out in borrowed clothes after an assault and an invasive exam, to travel to a variety of stores or pharmacies to track down the medication they need to put their mind at ease is cruel and unwarranted. Missouri can and should do better.
St. Luke’s Health System in Kansas City has reversed their earlier decision to stop providing emergency contraception to patients. Their decision to stop providing it was based on interpretation of the 2019 “trigger law” that last week banned abortion, and the subsequent proclamation and opinion signed by the Governor and Attorney General. We appreciate St. Luke’s willingness to reverse course and put the needs of victims first.
First and foremost, we want to thank the advocates at the Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault (MOCSA). MOCSA staff immediately advocated on the behalf of victims by describing how this change in policy would affect someone who had just been raped and was seeking a comprehensive range of hospital care. MOCSA’s advocacy efforts have not gone unnoticed.
Thank you to Missouri House Minority Leader, Representative Crystal Quade of Springfield, for requesting an official opinion from the Attorney General’s office regarding the new law and the impact on Missourians who use contraception.
Thank you to the office of the Missouri Attorney General for quickly and unequivocally stating, as reported by the Missouri Independent, “Missouri law does not prohibit the use or provision of Plan B, or contraception,” said Chris Nuelle, a spokesman for Schmitt.”
After Governor Parson charged the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) to evaluate whether the newly enacted law that bans abortions in Missouri applies to contraceptives, DHSS released a statement that contraception is not banned under Missouri law. “Before and following the Supreme Court of the United States’ ruling in Dobbs that overturns Roe v. Wade, Missouri law does not ban the use of contraception methods. RSMo 188.017 criminalizes performing an abortion absent a medical emergency, but this does not include pregnancy preventive measures.”
We thank DHSS for their swift action in releasing this statement and ensuring that sexual assault survivors, and all Missourians, will continue to have access to emergency contraceptives.
We hope other providers that had been considering a change of practice to stop providing emergency contraception strongly consider the statements from the Attorney General’s office and Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services before doing so. For additional information about birth control methods and where to access various forms of birth control, visit the Missouri Family Health Council.
Updated on May 19, 2022 – Even-numbered years are typically viewed as the most important election years and typically have the largest voter turnout, because of presidential and congressional elections. Alternately, the 2022 election year is known as the “mid-term” because the president is not on the ballot but some congressional delegates are decided. The mid-term August primary, and November general elections, generally have the second-largest voter turnouts due to congressional elections.
U.S. Census and Where You Vote
The U.S. Census counts every 10 years. Redistricting of congressional and state house/senate district maps occurs to adjust accordingly to population changes. Each district is drawn to represent a similar number of citizens.
Missouri is currently behind on redistricting to adjust to the 2020 Census data because the Missouri legislature failed to establish new districts before the last day of the primary election candidate filing on March 29th. The new district maps should be in effect before the August 2nd primary election. Below are details regarding where Missouri currently is in the redistricting process. MOCADSV will keep you apprised of changes.
Redistricting Process
The U.S. Senate is comprised of 50 members. Each state has two Senators who represent the entire state, therefore, district maps are not needed. Long-time U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO) is not running for re-election in 2022. The U.S. Senate primary and general elections will be important because Missouri will have a new U.S. Senator starting January 2023.
The U.S. House of Representatives is comprised of 435 members. The Permanent Apportionment Act of 1929 set the total number of House members at 435 rather than continuing to increase with population. Each state is awarded a number of U.S. House districts based on the most recent census data/population and divided between 435 seats. Missouri currently has eight U.S. House districts which remain unchanged with the 2020 Census, although we held nine seats prior to the 2010 Census.
This is also a year when state legislators are either running for re-election or are term-limited from running again in the Missouri House or Senate. Sixteen out of 163 Missouri House members are term-limited, and six out of 34 Missouri Senators are term-limited. Additionally, there are vacant House districts that need to be filled. Some legislators are running for re-election in a part of the state that is new to them due to state redistricting.
State and federal redistricting maps are available here:
This is an important election year. Check any changes to your federal or state voting district(s) for the 2022 elections, and check your voter registration on the Missouri Secretary of State’s website.
If you are interested to view your sample ballot for any election, you can contact your local election authority.
U.S. House of Representatives (Congressional) Redistricting Map
Summary
The Missouri General Assembly determines the Congressional districts and they passed a new congressional map before the 2022 legislative session ended. On May 18, 2022, Governor Parson signed the map into law, HB 2909 (Rep. Dan Shaul, R-Imperial), which immediately went into effect because of the emergency clause. The new map will be in place during the 2022 midterm election. No action has been taken, but there is a possibility there could be a legal challenge to the map because Missouri’s constitution requires that districts are compact. There is speculation that the map, drawn as a 6-2 map favoring Republicans, doesn’t meet the standard and was drawn to eliminate any swing districts.
View the Congressional map here.
The Delay
During the legislative session, the Missouri House and Senate passed bills with different versions of the maps. Both chambers needed to pass the exact same bill before it could be sent to the governor for signature. The House passed a bill without an emergency clause, while the Senate passed a different version of the bill with an emergency clause. An emergency clause means the bill takes effect on the date the governor signs the bill, rather than the standard date that laws go into effect, which is August 28th. If the bill does not include an emergency clause, then the new district maps will not take effect until after the primary election.
One point of contention was that the Senate map splits Columbia and Marshfield into two Congressional districts rather than staying in one district as historically done. The House twice requested the Senate agree to a conference committee to work out the differences. A conference committee is a temporary committee including both House and Senate members to resolve differences between the legislation and send an agreed upon bill back to both chambers for a final vote. Right before session ended, both chambers were able to come to an agreement and pass the congressional map.
Approved Missouri House Redistricting Map Available
The House Independent Bipartisan Citizens Commission (HIBCC) released its redistricting map by the deadline to establish a new House district map. You can identify if there are changes to the Missouri House district number(s) that will represent you and/or your agency’s service area.
Approved Missouri Senate Redistricting Map Available
The Missouri Independent Bipartisan Citizens Commission (SIBCC) failed to meet the deadline to establish a new Senate district map. Therefore, the Judiciary Redistricting Commission was established. It was a panel of judges who were tasked to determine the Senate redistricting map. The Commission filed its recommendations to the Secretary of State in March. You can identify if there are changes to the Missouri Senate district number(s) that will represent you and/or your agency’s service area.
