Editor, News-Register:
Passion is no excuse for murder. People experience passion, pain and anger everyday. Most of us have experienced the heart wrenching feeling of rejection and the stinging rage of jealousy, hurt and anger. The majority of people do not pick up a gun, knife or weapon to murder or harm. Nothing excuses this violence and the ultimate tragedy.
It is domestic violence at its worst. "Life goes on," but not for the victim or the children left without both parents or the family whoselives have changed forever. The grief is unforgiving, questioning if they only did more.
Local statistics of domestic violence are on the rise and the most dangerous time for a woman is when she decides to finally leave. National statistics show that it takes a victim an average of six to nine times before leaving the abuser, mostly because of fear - fear of being caught and that the beatings will be worse, or that the abuser will also beat the children, injure or kill the family pets. Animal abuse is also part of the pattern of domestic violence. Fear of uprooting the children, changing schools, no income, no job, and a low self esteem. Years of physical and verbal abuse have a strong psychological impact on the minds of victims, and everyday decisions are many times impossible without assistance. Distress, fear and depression can lead to suicide attempts. Alcohol and drugs can further exacerbate the problems.
Domestic violence is a serious and tragic crime. We feel the impact of domestic violence everywhere and it is critical not to diminish the perpetrator's responsibility for the conduct or suggest a degree of mutuality between the victim and the perpetrator. The motivations of the aggressor are as much about power and control as anger. It is unsupportive of the victim by attributing to the degree of responsibility and continue the victimization. We must also hold batterers accountable before their violence escalates to a potentially lethal situation.
There a many ways to get the community involved to help identify and prevent domestic violence in their communities. For more information, please call the YWCA Family Violence Prevention Program's 24 hour hotline at 304-232-2748 or 800-688-1247
Debbie Wood, director
YWCA Family Violence Prevention Program
Ohio, Marshall and Wetzel Counties