Local news has been filled with domestic violence stories. But are we encouraging victimization instead of helping victims be victorious?  Would Empowerment Month be a better option for October than domestic violence month?

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Oct. 20, 2003 Contact: Bloomfield Press Felicity
Bower 1-800-707-4020

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OCTOBER IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE MONTH-
OCTOBER IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE MONTH-
OCTOBER IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE MONTH-

Simple Awareness or Actual Prevention?
Simple Awareness or Actual Prevention?


"The concept of domestic violence month is nice and frilly, but isn't it time already for real substance?" asks Alan Korwin, author of numerous books on violence prevention and self protection. "We know from the Clinton Justice Dept. and recent scholarly studies that guns help prevent millions of attacks and crimes annually. Let's apply these lessons in creative ways," he suggests.

"When a woman or man is identified by the courts as a domestic-violence victim, the state should immediately waive the fees for obtaining a firearm-carry permit, and provide handgun training, a solution we know deters assaults," he says. "I would go further, and provide incentives to take a crime-prevention course, if the legislature would support it. Next year, let's create and celebrate National Empowerment Month instead of mere victim awareness, and teach self reliance in community outreach programs and schools."

Many murdered spouses are killed soon after they obtain a court order of protection. If a victim shoots a court-recognized abuser within the zone where the abuser is not supposed to be, there should be an automatic legal presumption of self defense, Korwin says. Pass that little law, he adds, and watch the chilling effect, which he describes as a common-sense move. Mr. Korwin has been speaking to state legislators about introducing bills in the upcoming session that would empower victims, and help neutralize violent aggressors. If such laws actually get passed, it will help save lives and fight crime. The anti-civil-rights approach of making you more defenseless is bad public policy, he says.

Arizona will reintroduce its Gun-Free-Zone Liability Act this year for the third time, and six other states are looking at this legislation as well, Korwin says. The bill allows anyone to create gun-free zones verbally or with signs if they wish, but holds them liable to anyone harmed by the zone. "Gun-free zones are dangerous, negligent and reckless," as detailed on the gunlaws.com website Korwin runs. "The idea that a sign makes you safer is fraudulent. It needs to be exposed. Criminals ignore the signs, creating dangerous disarmed-victim areas. This enables atrocities such as the massacre at Luby's Cafeteria in Killeen, Texas."

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