Monday, February 21, 2011
STOP CODDLING DOMESTIC ABUSERS
The shooting death of Poughkeepsie police officer John Falcone on Friday as he came to the aid of a three-year-old girl who had just witnessed her father kill her mother in a parked car was another example of extreme domestic violence becoming the new normal. The killer had recently been released on bail after assaulting his wife twice in January. The woman had moved out with her children but had agreed to meet her estranged husband to get the family car back. Instead the husband shot her dead in a parking lot before killing Officer Falcone and eventually himself. This incident is part of a disturbing trend with people using guns instead of lawyers when resolving domestic disputes. It's time the judicial system began treating these situations at least as seriously as we now treat drunk driving. These things are no longer "family matters." Like all criminal activity, the criminal needs to know there will be a heavy price to pay for crossing the line. No more low bail or suspended sentences for first-time offenders. Take guns away from abusers. Have real hot lines where women can get immediate help. If we have to take money away from some feel-good social program, so be it. People are dying out there. Deal with it.
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6 comments:
Just want to say, love this comment and your opinions of this. If you ever want to collaborate, please contact me through my website, www.4survivors.blogspot.com.
It is elected officials who will have the most impact on the outcomes of this issue. Voters need to be informed as to whether their legislators have a consistent and unwavering position or whether they use it to conveniently pander for votes, according to what the mood is. Then, legislators need to be asked to explain themselves.
http://www.votesmart.org/issue_keyvote_member.
php?cs_id=29458
Just want to make sure that people are aware of the hotlines in existance where women can get immediate help:
Crime Victims Assistance Program (845) 452-7272 24 hours
Battered Women's Services (845) 485-5550 24 hours
Grace Smith House (845) 471-3033
These numbers are available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.
There is a dire need for DV REFORM domestic violence resource and public policy reform in the Hudson Valley the death of Officer Falcone and the victims in the past 8 months need to be recognized and real action needs to be taken by the legislators and the DV Committee. Talk is cheap and domestic violence is life or death not only for the victims it is also the first responders like Officer Falcone that need more than talk from the county legislators and governmently funded domestic violence organizations. Special thank you to Maria DiBari a surivvor of domestic violence in Dutchess County for speaking out and volunteering her time day by bay to reform resources for abuse victims and help support public policy changes like GPS monitoring with restraining orders. The nation is watching as the domestic violence paid professional advocates fail to even show up to the press conferences and events to bring about reform and support for victims - it is time to get folks like Maria DiBari and others who are ready, willing and able to do the hard work that is needed to help ensure "no victim is left behind".
While I agree with your comments in principle, you should be aware that those "feel-good" programs you're ready to cut are the same programs that provide some other service dometic violence survivors need in order come out of the nightmare of abuse. Psychological and mental services for adults AND children, housing and food services, education and hotline programs that have already been cut or eliminated by the county and state. You don't use an axe in the garden but give careful thought to your next act.
If only the domestic violence programs actually helped victims! Try getting a divorce from an abuser and see what kind of legal help you get: none. Meanwhile the abuser gets a free lawyer in the criminal case and a lawyer for the divorce. All the big domestic violence agencies is put victims on a rat wheel. Call this number, you call there and get another number, you call that one and are told to call the first number. Meanwhile executive at these organisations are well paid and they have awesome dinners and events. But what do victims get????
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