Gary D. Robertson, Associated Press Writer

Three years after sweeping changes to the state’s domestic violence laws, there’s a renewed push in the General Assembly to further reduce the threat of abuse.

A House committee took a first step Tuesday by agreeing to a bill that would make it a felony for some suspected abusers to contact potential victims while possessing a deadly weapon.

”This could be another huge year in terms of protecting victims in our state,” said Beth Froehling of the nonprofit North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

The measure is one of 16 recommendations made late last year by a new permanent legislative commission examining domestic violence. The new commission came on the heels of a 2004 overhaul of the laws to combat an increase in slayings related to domestic violence. Those laws increased punishments and created a legal defense fund for victims.

The N.C. Coalition Against Domestic Violence says 76 domestic-violence related homicides have been committed on average annually since 2002. More than 500 homicides occurred statewide each of the past two years. (more…)