Letter: Let's put a stop to domestic violence

Dear Editor:

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

What is domestic violence and how can we stop it? Domestic violence is a slap, a kick, a verbal attack, being thrown into a wall or down on the stairs, lost teeth, broken jaw, black eye, sometimes even death. Domestic violence is about power and control over someone.

How can you stop it? Be a model for others to see how a violent free lifestyle should be. Teach your children to respect themselves and others. If someone tells you or you suspect they are living with domestic violence, never ever tell them they might just need to deal with it. No one, under any circumstances should be told to deal with their abusive marriage or relationship.

Unless you are living in that home you have no idea how serious or life threatening the situation is. At the very least you are telling them that their life isn't valued by you. By telling someone to deal with what is happening, you might be handing that person a death sentence.

Give them the Lincoln County Crisis Solutions crisis line number and urge them to call. Sign up to be a volunteer on the crisis line or help in transporting victims to shelter. Sign up for volunteer training which will be starting the second week of November. We need both men and women to help victims.

This year's Domestic Violence Awareness Month celebration will be in Eureka. Free food and drinks will be available at 6 p.m., followed by a rally and candle light march on Wednesday, Oct. 15 at Eureka City Park.

A caravan to the rally leaves Libby at 4:30 p.m.

For more information, call the crisis line at 293-3223 or outside Libby, call toll free 1-877-493-7139.

Barb Guthneck

Lincoln County Crisis

Solutions, Libby