The first step to present Massachusetts voters with an opportunity to repeal the state's domestic abuse law was taken on Thursday, July 28, 2011 when an Initiative Petition to Repeal MGL 209A was submitted for review to the state's Attorney General. Once the Petition is certified in early September the proponents, who include many Fatherhood Coalition members, will begin the task of collecting some 68,000 certified signatures from registered voters.

Enacted into law in July, 1978, MGL 209A was the first domestic abuse law in the country and used as a model for similar laws nationwide. It is fitting that the effort to repeal this unconstitutional and onerous law begin in the same state.

Signature gathering for Initiative Petitions in Massachusetts is a costly task and only two months are allowed to gather the required number of certified signatures from registered voters.

Contact The Fatherhood Coalition for more information about how you can support the effort.