Domestic Violence; Why It Hurts So Much

Louisiana for years has been in the top five of states for the number of women killed by their spouses/partners.

Domestic Violence is a term that we may think we understand, but do we really understand this issue? Ralph Peters with the Family Violence Intervention Program in Lafayette explains that it is much more complicated than someone who hasn't experienced can even understand.

The former interim Lafayette Police Chief says during his years as a police officer he saw far too many women who were hurt or killed by the person who is supposed to love them the most.

As Peters points out, people often ask the question, "Why doesn't she just leave?", when the real question people should be asking is, "Why is he beating on her?". He says we as society often victimize domestic violence victims further by not understanding that these women (and men) have been beaten down in one or many of the following ways:

• He says they will beat you done physically.
• He says they will abuse you emotionally.
• He says they will wear you down verbally.
• He says they will use sex as a weapon to terrorize you into doing what they want.
• He says they will threaten/hurt your children.

Peters is the Executive Director of the Family Violence Intervention Program that is a once a week, 26-week program, that aims to teach batterers why they do what they do in the hopes they will be rehabilited.

Peters says you think you know what domestic violence is, but most people don't.

In these two parts, Peters explains to me on Up Close (Saturday mornings at 8 a.m.) why domestic violence is so insidious, and I don't use that word lightly, and why it's so complex.

If you need a place to go to escape domestic violence, please call Faith House in Lafayette at (337) 232-8954.