Domestic Violence is increasing and the problem is not getting better, but instead seems to be getting worse.
Somehow, society, in general, doesn’t view domestic violence with the same seriousness that it views other kinds of violence.
A man can strangle a woman until she’s almost lifeless, but he probably won’t be charged with attempted murder, only domestic abuse by strangulation.
A woman could beat a man with a skillet and throw and knife at his head, but the offense will only be logged as “domestic abuse” not aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Somehow violence between people in relationships is viewed as less criminal.
If a man strangles a woman with whom he is not having a relationship he would no doubt be charged with attempted murder. However, if the woman is his lover somehow the offense is less egregious in the eyes of the law.
Why? Is it because most laws in our society are written by male-dominated law-making bodies? Do men still secretly harbor the notion that women are somehow their property and they have a right to deal with their property in any way they want?
That would probably be a true supposition if all victims were women, but they are not.
According to the Center for Disease Control, 85% of the victims of domestic violence are women, which means that at least 15 percent of the victims are men. It gets more complicated statistically because some victims are involved in same-sex relationships.
Violent acts between spouses or those in relationships should be taken seriously because all physical violence is a crime.
Domestic violence is the outgrowth of a growing atmosphere of violence that exists in our general society in which issues are resolved with violent responses. Siblings fight, so do spouses and family members. Races fight, nations fight. When they fight, the object is to “kill” or dismember the other.
Police report that some of their most dangerous calls involve domestic disputes. The intent of each partner at the moment is to “kill” or dismember the other and when officers get in the way, they sometimes get hurt as well.
However, when an arrest is made, somehow the seriousness of the offense is reduced by tagging it “Domestic” abuse.
Under that definition, nearly all violent exchanges between people who know each other could be called “Domestic.”
Gang fights between gangs in the same neighborhood or same city could be called “Domestic” disputes.
Race riots between whites and blacks who live in the same city could be called “Domestic” disputes.
The Civil war involved sisters and brothers and family members who lived in different parts of the same country, a war in which over 600,000 families and citizens of the same country killed each other. Was it “domestic” abuse because it only involved Americans killing each other?
Domestic violence occurs among all ethnic groups and all cultures, among all ages, all income levels, all faiths, and all educational levels.
Both the perpetrators and victims of domestic abuse need help. The physical damage to life and property is incalculable.
Perhaps perpetrators would take it more seriously if instead of the abuser being charged with “Domestic Abuse” he or she is actually charged with attempted murder. It’s a more serious charge, makes it harder to make bail and do it again, and might cause some to think before they act.
At the present, the law seems to view domestic violence with a less condemning eye, which gives it a green light to continue.
