Latest news with #GabbyPetitoAct
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Yahoo
Readers sound off on gender-based violence, off-duty dancing and NIMBYism
Seattle: Gender neutrality benefits women in many areas: the office, home and under the law. However, as Netflix's 'American Murder: Gabby Petito' underscores, when domestic violence is suspected, it can cost a woman her life. During a now-publicized traffic stop in Moab, Utah, officers rushed to judgment, naming Petito's boyfriend and travel companion, Brian Laundrie, the aggressor. They separated the couple, sending Laundrie to a hotel for domestic violence victims while leaving Petito to sleep in her van. Domestic violence is not an equal-opportunity crime. Men can be victims, but men are far more often the aggressors. In 2023, the National Library of Medicine reported that 500,000 women versus 100,000 men experienced physical assault or rape by an intimate partner. It goes against my grain to call women the weaker sex. It's not how I was raised or raised my children. But gender differences, particularly physical strength, automatically place women in a subordinate position. Then there's the verbal gymnastics that put women on the defensive — like Petito, who felt compelled to explain her OCD and how she angered Laundrie by editing her videos. Women are conditioned to suppress their needs; men to expect it. Feminism challenges these notions, and rightly so. The officers likely thought they were avoiding gender bias. But domestic violence against women isn't a stereotype — it's a reality. Their neutrality was misplaced, and another young woman died because of it. The Gabby Petito Act, a 2024 Florida law requiring police to conduct a 12-question assessment in domestic violence incidents, is a start. But until society acknowledges women's disproportionate vulnerability, there will be more Gabbys, unheard — or worse, left for dead. Elise Buie Hempstead, L.I.: To Voicer Thomas Facchiano: Ya got that right. 'Conclave' was the best movie in years — great acting, should have been nominated for cinematography, great twist ending and tour de force performances. Loved it! Leslie Feldman Brooklyn: So, Columbia student Mahmoud Khalil has been arrested for exercising his right to free speech. That's the real reason he was grabbed out of his apartment. His green card was probably completely in order. This administration just doesn't want 'troublemakers' speaking up. What's next, are we going to arrest anyone who supports the IRA? Bob Gomez Manhattan: If Brad Lander, as he claims, doesn't know anyone who spends the amount of money Andrew Cuomo pays in his monthly Manhattan housing rent, then Lander doesn't know many NYC residents. Mayors need to know the full populace and work together to get things done. I know more than enough high-income renters who pay more than Cuomo. Either Lander is lying, or if he is telling the truth, he does not deserve to be mayor of New York City. Joey Dluzak West Columbia, S.C.: Why are politicians arguing about how to cut Medicare and Social Security instead of how to increase taxes on the richest 1%? Who wanted an Elon Musk to bring an army of reckless amateurs to gut government departments and kick out employees? Will they ever deliver a real accounting of how much money was saved and how much they charged? What is Russia receiving in exchange for America's abandonment of Ukraine? Why have male politicians become obsessed with controlling women's health choices? Will Canadian patience hold out until our president loses his urge to take over their country? Will Republicans ever get their mojo back and take a stand for democracy again? Can the Democrats find a workaround to halt the damage being done? Are there any answers out there, or just questions? Carol Robinson Bronx: With President Trump's attack on USAID and Medicaid plus his tariffs, I can hear the painful cries of veterans, of people with disabilities, people of color, the poor, red state voters and women. How many of these victims voted for the demented man in the Oval Office? Why are so many Trump voters dismayed by the executive orders that have negatively affected them? New Yorkers have received the most wrath from Trump, and you can do something about it. Vote out all Republican House members, they have betrayed their states. We can cut the legs off of this lame duck president by a landslide vote in 2026, taking back both houses of Congress. Gilbert M. Lane Manhattan: To Voicer Glenn Hayes: Your letter was excellent in encouraging readers and fellow Americans to take heed in protecting their economy in their own houses and being wise with personal spending. Unfortunately, most Americans aren't going to take heed, as we live in a society where most are programmed to consume. If you continue to live above your means, to spend crazy and be bamboozled by the government, it's not a Trump/Musk problem, it's a man/woman in the mirror problem. Omar Branch Richmond Hill: To Voicer Nat Saraceni: You believe that JD Vance never wore blue jeans. Yes he did, and they probably were some hand-me-downs with a lot of wear and tear on them. Do you not know anything about the way he grew up? Read his book 'Hillbilly Elegy' or watch the film before you open your misinformed mouth! Maybe Trump never wore blue jeans, but growing up poor in Appalachia, raised by his elderly grandmother and with an alcoholic, substance-abusing mother, Vance certainly did. He joined the Marine Corps, served in Afghanistan and worked his way through Ohio State University and Yale Law School. Your hatred blinds you to the truth. Joseph Napoleone Melville, L.I.: He disparaged the military service of American hero John McCain on camera. According to many witnesses, he referred to servicemen and women as 'suckers' and 'losers.' Now the man who faked bone spurs to get out of military service is having his administration ban patriotic Americans from serving in the military. Is there nothing he can do that will make you see the truth about this man? Dennis Joyce Tarrytown, N.Y.: Captain Bone Spurs is betraying our allies and everything that our great country has stood for in the last century. In the blink of an eye, we have shown the world that America can no longer be respected or trusted in their time of need. I just observed a quote from the draft-dodger stating that if America would ever require help, our NATO partners would decline. When we launched Operation Enduring Freedom in 2001, every single one of our NATO partners assisted, and most countries had soldiers killed, including 160 from our neighbor to the north. These brave Canadian soldiers stood side-by-side in protecting America's interests. Their memory is disrespected by someone who clearly failed history. But we'll never know, as you can be severely sued for obtaining those school records. Stephen Talenti Yonkers: I generally enjoy Voicer James McCaffrey's frequent contributions to the Voice of the People page, though they may be a tad hyperbolic and verbose at times. I just wish his contributions were around when I was trying to enhance my vocabulary for the Graduate Record Examination a few decades ago. Frank Brady Lake Ronkonkoma, L.I.: Re 'Cop's jiggle-joint-vid fan' (March 9): Why should Det. Melissa Mercado be disciplined? And why has she been removed from active investigations? Her record clearly shows she's an excellent police officer and a credit to the NYPD. Has an investigation ever taken place for policemen who regularly attend men's clubs? The article states the video went viral within the NYPD. Was it watched during working hours? Are the officers who watched it being disciplined? I am so sick and tired of having centuries of men's double-standard determinations of how women should act shoved down my throat. Joanne Lee Manhattan: What hypocrisy! Normal Siegel wants to end homelessness ('New York City can really end street homelessness,' op-ed, March 9) although he has been legal counsel to supporters of the Elizabeth Street Garden who are opposing affordable and low-income housing on that street. It seems that he advocates for housing unless it affects his friends and clients. Unfortunately, he isn't the only person who supports housing in the abstract but not when it can actually be built — the exact definition of NIMBYism. Alec Pruchnicki
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Yahoo
Netflix series ‘American Murder: Gabby Petito', What are the 11 questions in domestic violence investigations
CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP/AP) – The Netflix docuseries debuted this week about the story of Gabby Petito who was killed by her boyfriend while they were traveling cross country. In 2021, 22-year-old Petito was traveling the country in a converted camper van with her fiance, 23-year-old Brian Laundrie, and posting about it on social media. She was reported missing by her parents on Sept. 11, 2021, after not hearing from her since August. 'I knew something bad happened,' said Nichole Schmidt, Gabby's mother, in the trailer for the documentary 'American Murder: Gabby Petito.' Family, friends of Gabby Petito share details surrounding her death in upcoming Netflix documentary Laundrie returned to Florida alone and the search for Petito drew worldwide attention. Bodycam footage of the two of them was released to the public by police in Moab, Utah. It showed police pulling over the van that Petito and Laundrie were in after reports of an altercation on Aug. 12, 2021. Police determined that Petito was the aggressor, and officers had them spend the night apart. During the search for Petito, Laundrie was named a person of interest. He disappeared two days before Petito's body was found on Sept. 19, 2021, just outside Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. Authorities determined that she had been strangled. Laundrie's remains were found a month later in a wildlife reserve near his parents' house in Florida. He died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after writing in a notebook that he killed Petito. An independent investigation found that Moab police made ' several unintentional mistakes ' when they encountered the couple. In their report, investigators said Petito very likely 'was a long-term victim of domestic violence, whether that be physically, mentally, and/or emotionally.' 'American Murder: Gabby Petito', a three-part Netflix documentary premiered on Feb. 17th. Episodes tell the story of Petito and Laundrie, how they met, footage of Petito's vlog, the missing person investigation, and how they reacted to their relationship. Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-788-SAFE Co-sponsor of Gabby Petito-inspired bill: 'Good policy is going to make a difference' In the Netflix series, Joseph Petito and Nichole Schmidt were shown advocating for law enforcement to ask 11 questions in domestic violence investigations citing, in Gabby's case, 'if it had been used, I believe she would still be here today,' said Schmidt. A domestic violence bill was filed in the state of Florida in 2023 called the 'Gabby Petito Act', to mandate a set of questions for law enforcement officers to ask potential victims of domestic abuse when responding to calls. This standardized approach seeks to ensure that victims receive consistent support and are made aware of the dangers they may be facing. According to our sister station, WFLA, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 1224, the bill inspired by and pushed for by the family of Gabby Petito. It requires law enforcement to be trained on how to assess if a domestic violence victim is at a higher risk of death or serious injury by asking a series of 12 questions. Did the aggressor ever use a weapon against you or threaten you with a weapon? Did the aggressor ever threaten to kill you or your children? Do you believe the aggressor will try to kill you? Has the aggressor ever choked you or attempted to choke you? Does the aggressor have a gun or could the aggressor easily obtain a gun? Is the aggressor violently or constantly jealous, or does the aggressor control most of your daily activities? Did you leave or separate from the aggressor after you were living together or married? Is the aggressor unemployed? To the best of your knowledge, has the aggressor ever attempted suicide? Do you have a child whom the aggressor believes is not the aggressor's biological child? Has the aggressor ever followed, spied on, or left threatening messages for you? Is there anything else that worries you about your safety and, if so, what worries you? If the victim answers yes to any of the first four questions, or if they answer no to the first four questions but yes to at least four of questions five through 11, law enforcement officers will have to direct the victim to the nearest certified domestic violence shelter. Instead of focusing on the past, Petito's parents are focused on helping others through the Gabby Petito Foundation. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
