- about what the existing laws mean and how they work;
- about new laws and what they will do; and
- a perspective from both sides of the "abuse" equation --- male and female, straight and gay, old and young, Maryland and other states.
At this firm we have a manifesto about family violence. Here it is:
"Let there be no mistake, at Maryland Family Law Firm, L.L.C. we know that domestic violence is no joke. We call it by its right name: family violence. Family violence knows no bias. It is perpetrated by men and by women. By rich and by poor. By young and by old. By parents and by children. By straight and by gay. By religious and by non-religious. It is a truly equal opportunity problem. We consider family violence to be a crime. Family violence is a crime that is all about the misuse of power to manipulate and control others, not about the use of physical force, although often, physical force is involved.
Unfortunately, family violence is a crime with baggage. We believe that Maryland and every other state that has attempted to legislate the crime into submission has failed. Largely because the crime of family violence was co-opted by well-meaning persons with vastly limited perceptions when the Federal Violence Against Women Act was originally passed. Sadly, those limited perceptions have filtered into state lawmaking, diluting the effectiveness of the law to the actual victims of family violence and tragically, often turning it into a tool for the use of those who are guilty of it, no matter what their gender.
Our goal is to offer legal help to those caught in the web of family violence, male or female, alleged perpetrator or alleged victim or those who may be a little of both. We know that most of the time, a family infected with family violence rarely has a white hat or a black hat. We are here for all of you. Call us today."
