DEAR ABBY: In response to the letters in your column about domestic abuse -- one from a divorce lawyer in Florida and another from Attorney General Tom Udall of New Mexico -- I am sure they both mean well, but domestic abuse is not cut-and-dried.
Yes, we need to protect women from batterers and free them from arrest when they defend themselves. But one-sided laws that protect only women (battered by men) are just quick-fix schemes -- "sound bite" laws.
Blanket protection for women doesn't address gay and lesbian relationships (like it or not, they do exist -- and they, too, have batterers). Women are also batterers and abusers, not just in lesbian relationships, but also in straight relationships. Men, too, can be victims.
Laws against domestic violence should focus on the abuser, whoever the abuser is -- male or female, straight or gay, rich or poor. Law enforcement and politicians should be trained to understand all the possibilities, and then take educated action to end abuse. We already have too many laws and too many police. What we really need now is more respect for both -- and for one another. -- STEPHEN RANDOLPH, SAN FRANCISCO
DEAR STEPHEN: You make a good point. However, I believe the laws are written the way they are because the vast majority of spousal battery cases involve men abusing women. After reading your letter, I would concur that the laws should be amended so that all batterers, regardless of gender, should be liable for their actions.