Lawmakers Hear Emotional Stories From 'Forgotten Crisis' Of Military Domestic Violence

Former wives and partners of servicemen who survived domestic abuse told their harrowing stories before the House Armed Services military preparedness subcommittee as they pressed for more attention to and resources for the growing problem within the armed forces.

"We are here today because domestic violence has become a forgotten crisis in our military," chairwoman Jackie Speier, D-Calif., said in her opening remarks before the military preparedness subcommittee.

"The [Department of Defense] must learn to believe women and take action based on their claims and evidence. Favoritism and a complex bureaucracy cannot shield dangerous perpetrators," she continued.

Three survivors of domestic violence shared their stories with the subcommittee. They say the military turned a blind eye toward domestic abusers and, in some cases, actively protect them by overlooking complaints of physical violence and emotional abuse.

Kate Ranta said that despite reporting physical abuse to her husband's commanding officer, he was protected by the system because he might lose his pension so near to retirement. While he was referred to a court martial, he faced no charges; she was instead told the issue was handled "administratively."

But then her husband showed up at her house with a gun, shooting both herself and her father — right in front of their toddler.

"Thomas did this in front of William, his own son, who was only 4 — his own son who screamed, 'Don't do it Daddy, don't shoot Mommy,'" Ranta said. "By some miracle, we all lived."