The Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts on Friday, September 16, 2011, ordered the AG's office to allow the petition to repeal MGL 209A (so-called 'Abuse Prevention') to go forward. Petitioners, supported by The Fatherhood Coalition, expect the Massachusetts Secretary of State to quickly provide the petition sheets.

The deadline for collecting the required 68,900 signatures is November 23. All those who oppose this draconian law are encouraged to contact petitioners through CPF (support@fatherhoodcoalition.org) to help in the effort.

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.

It was with sadness that we learned Tom Ball, in an act of protest, sacrificed his life by dousing himself with gasoline and lighting himself on fire at the Keene New Hampshire County Court House steps on Wednesday. June 15, 2011. Eye witness accounts of Tom's last moments say he was calm and committed to his act.