Awareness a way to comfort afflicted

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and in recognition of efforts to combat violence in the home The Record-Courier is wearing a purple ribbon above the fold in every edition this month.

Among the things that Chicago newspaperman and turn of the century syndicated columnist Finley Peter Dunne listed among the powers of the press were comforting the afflicted and afflicting the comfortable.

Dunne was being critical of the press, but in that phrase he showed how we can make things better in our community.

For few are as afflicted as those who suffer injury and intimidation under their own roof.

Nevada law recognizes the requirement to give victims of domestic violence a head start. Anyone arrested for domestic battery within 24 hours of the incident must remain in jail for 12 hours without possibility of bail.

It's not much time, but in many cases enough to allow the victim time to relocate and obtain a restraining order against their abuser.

The law requires prison time for a third domestic abuse conviction, yet all the legal support in the world won't help if a victim won't help themselves.

That's why there is a domestic violence awareness month, to let victims of domestic violence know that they are not alone. In Douglas County, the Family Support Council and the county's domestic violence prevention coordinator are there to help the victims of domestic battery, which are not always women.

Preventing domestic violence does more than stop one person from hitting another. Children raised in violent households are more likely to become abusers themselves, carrying on a dangerous tradition.