As the daughter of a mother who suffered countless abuses at the hands of my stepfather, I am demanding that we introduce tougher sentences for domestic violence offenders. My nightmare began when my mother married my stepfather and the abuse started. The shared ordeal with my mother left a traumatic stamp on both our lives. His gruesome acts finally placed him behind bars, but only for a few months, hardly a punishment that fit our nightmares.

Current laws do not seem to fully understand the profound impacts of domestic violence. On average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. This equates to more than 10 million victims annually, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. It's unfathomable that offenders often receive lenient sentences which fail to deter recurring instances of such violent behavior.

We need to demand a judicial system that treats domestic violence with the gravity it deserves. These crimes shatter homes and destroy lives. It's crucial for our government to ensure legislation and penalties reflect the severity of these offences and offer real protection and justice to victims.

Join me in pushing for stricter laws and harsher sentences for domestic violence perpetrators. They should never have an easy way out allowing them to potentially victimize others. With your signature, we can press for change that guarantees justice to victims of domestic violence. Sign the petition.