Over the last week the news has been filled with the deaths of two deputies in Henderson County. Two
men who died in the line of duty trying to protect a woman from further abuse heaped on her by a husband
she is bound to, and whom the law can’t really protect her from.
The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office had been called to that residence previously so he knew he
would go to jail for a domestic dispute. This did not have to happen and shouldn’t have. If the laws were
written to protect the innocent rather than to protect the criminals from actually being punished for the
crimes they commit.
By that I don’t mean him just getting a slap on the hand as he would for beating his wife under the
current law, where beating a dog would get him more time, but by considering it at least as serious. A year
would give him time to get treatment and give her a chance to find a new life, and maybe save a life or two
along the way.
We must look at this from the woman’s point of view to completely understand the complexity of the
situation and that is a point of view that is full of fear and shame.
The shame is heaped on her by society thinking she doesn’t have to stay so she must like being
abused, or worse, that she doesn’t deserve to be safe from her abuser.
The fear is brought on by living with a man she should be the safest with, and often are from outside
interferences, while being terrified that this man might snap, killing her and anyone else in their path.
This incident in Henderson County is a good example of how far a man in a rage at his spouse is willing
to go. Luckily for his wife, she will live to have a chance at another life. Unlucky for the wives and families
of the two deputies who lost their lives as they tried to save hers.
men who died in the line of duty trying to protect a woman from further abuse heaped on her by a husband
she is bound to, and whom the law can’t really protect her from.
The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office had been called to that residence previously so he knew he
would go to jail for a domestic dispute. This did not have to happen and shouldn’t have. If the laws were
written to protect the innocent rather than to protect the criminals from actually being punished for the
crimes they commit.
By that I don’t mean him just getting a slap on the hand as he would for beating his wife under the
current law, where beating a dog would get him more time, but by considering it at least as serious. A year
would give him time to get treatment and give her a chance to find a new life, and maybe save a life or two
along the way.
We must look at this from the woman’s point of view to completely understand the complexity of the
situation and that is a point of view that is full of fear and shame.
The shame is heaped on her by society thinking she doesn’t have to stay so she must like being
abused, or worse, that she doesn’t deserve to be safe from her abuser.
The fear is brought on by living with a man she should be the safest with, and often are from outside
interferences, while being terrified that this man might snap, killing her and anyone else in their path.
This incident in Henderson County is a good example of how far a man in a rage at his spouse is willing
to go. Luckily for his wife, she will live to have a chance at another life. Unlucky for the wives and families
of the two deputies who lost their lives as they tried to save hers.
 | |  | |  | |  |
| Domestic Violence Touches More Than the Family |
| Melissa Hill May 2007 |