Does Mica's Law Stand a Chance with South Carolina's Male Lawmakers? (True Sunlight 145 Part 1)

Added: 2026-05-25

[00:00:00][music] >> Let's start by talking about the latest with Mica's Law, the bill that's meant to criminalize coercive control abuse in South Carolina. [music] It's a bill that legislators have had many opportunities to pass over the years, but every single version of it got stuck in committee. It's a law that likely would have saved Mica Francis' life because, as you all know, there are multiple instances of Mica seeking help from law enforcement in the months prior to [music] her death when, according to reports and court records, her estranged husband, so-called pastor and churchy business bro, John Paul Miller, allegedly stalked and harassed her relentlessly. [music] Knowing that Mica's life could have been saved is the hardest thing to accept in all of this as we still wait for JP to face some sort of justice. Mica, who according to court records, faced medical, spiritual, physical, emotional, financial, and sexual abuse from JP. She felt so hopeless and alone and like the alleged abuse would never end that she took her own life in April 2024. And again, South Carolina's legislature sat on their hands in the years leading up to this because they're well, they're not women, that's for sure. Here is Mica's divorce attorney, Regina Ward, speaking about the history of the coercive control abuse bills stalling in committee. Would you be shocked to know that that very law has already been drafted and has been sitting in the General Assembly and the Judiciary Committee both in the House of Representatives and the Senate?

[00:01:47]Don't get too happy.

[00:01:50]It's been sitting there since February the 2nd of 2020.

[00:01:56]Now, I'm mad. Are you mad? I'm mad.

[00:02:00]And the bill went no further once again, again, again, again. But, um there's been some concerns, and rightfully so, from from folks out there that don't want to criminalize um thought, you know? And I don't want to criminalize thought, either. Like, I don't want to get into that.

[00:02:20]So, Senator Goldfinch just gave us insight into what one of the hang-ups the legislator appears to have with criminalizing coercive control abuse.

[00:02:32]They think it's about thought. They think advocates want this law in place to punish men for thinking mean thoughts about their partners. Uh, no. No, no, no, no, no. After Senator Goldfinch spoke, the subcommittee heard from Jennifer Wells, who is a criminal defense attorney and has over 20 years of experience as a state and federal prosecutor in South Carolina, as well as in North Carolina. Jennifer expressed support for a coercive control bill, but also told the subcommittee that the language in this bill was too broad. She suggested the subcommittee further research how this law has worked in Hawaii, which is the only state to have criminalized coercive control abuse so far. This proposed draft, she said, is almost word for word that of Hawaii, so it would be instructive to learn what has worked with the law and what has not. She also said the quiet part out loud. Law enforcement and judges are not trained on the existing laws as they pertain to domestic violence and other elements of coercive control abuse.

[00:03:35]Next, Micah Francis's sister spoke. The lack of accountability over the years allowing this bill to lapse was detrimental and unforgivable as this could have saved our sister's life.

[00:03:46]A petition started nationwide the moment Micah died seeking justice and stricter laws.

[00:03:52]Our family, including 42,632 others, implore you to give this bill to the subcommittee along with chargeable offenses.

[00:04:00]We implore you to take a stand and help save the lives of those who are in need at this very moment.

[00:04:05]This bill has the ability to save an incalculable amount of individuals.

[00:04:09]As Christians, God requires us in Micah chapter 6 verse 8 to act justly, to love mercifully, and to walk humbly with him.

[00:04:17]And that is what we will continue to do.

[00:04:19]Micah died as a result of the totality of circumstances, and had the police been at all motivated to help her, there was a way. But they weren't, and they aren't going to be, which is why this law is necessary. [music] These guys need it spelled out for them. They need their hands held when responding to calls related to intimate partner violence. They need someone to stand behind them and hold open their eyes.

[00:04:45]And they need another person to whisper in their ears, slow down. There is something you can do.

[00:04:56]>> [music]