It is not the job of the police to reshape behaviours that are deeply rooted in our culture. It s not their job to teach boys that emotional independence comes from learning to express and deal with all their emotions. Or to convince adults to devote as many resources as necessary to ending family violence. Or to help all of us appreciate that certain life events can be sufficiently devastating for some of us to lead to far-reaching consequences for others. Perhaps we need not only courses and counselling to help us maintain or mend a relationship but also to help us end one.
Researchers now understand family violence better than ever.
Police are better trained than ever to respond to it. And some individuals notably brother, son, and friend Anthony McNaughton are readier than ever to pay the price of defending a life. Only when these people join in our efforts to end family violence will we stand a chance of doing so. Only when we adequately fund those who research and respond to family violence will we take strides toward creating a safe society.