DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: CAN THE LEGISLATURE ADDRESS VERBAL AND EMOTIONAL ABUSE?

Changing D.C.

Yes, I’m going there. I would bet my life on the fact that not one single victim of domestic violence homicide wasn’t first abused verbally and/or emotionally. It all started with a word, a glare, a grab. . . nothing to leave outer scars, but something that would drive countless hopeless individuals to choose to end their own life rather than continue living in their hell on earth.

If a man grabs a woman and threatens to throttle her, or worse, to kill her, we need to put some teeth in the laws of each and every state to make it a crime. There simply must be a level of accountability for anyone who finds it so easy to destroy the inner being of a victim. If left unaddressed, we will simply continue to bury more and more victims of homicide and/or suicide. And for God’s sake, let’s not forget the precious collateral damage—the babies, the children who are killed either because they stood between their Mommy and the gun or knife, or the perpetrator simply meant to take them out too. I’m guessing the mentality is they simply want to wreak the most havoc and pain possible during what may be their last stand.

I realize the difficulty in establishing a law that would stand under such circumstances, and if by some miracle it were to get passed, it would be truly challenging to see it hold up in court. But would we rather be “bothered” by the nuisance of those accused coming into the judge’s chambers and beseech, ” Judge, I swear I didn’t do nothin’,” or would we rather continue to bury victims?

Or… maybe all this IS the law, and I just haven’t seen it?

Carolyn is an advocate for sexual/domestic violence and assault awareness, also focusing on child sexual abuse. She is a Life Direction & Empowerment Coach, working with victims and survivors of molestation, sexual assault, domestic violence or spousal abuse, and bringing training to organizations seeking to help victims. Hennecy spent much time during October 2011, which is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, with media doing radio and television interviews. See Carolyn’s interview with Gayle Guyardo of NBC Channel 8 News Today Early Morning Show and her featured segment on the ABC Action News Emmy Award winning “Taking Action Against Domestic Violence” at orangeblossomwishes.com.