SAFE HOUSE HERE OFFERS A REFUGE FROM VIOLENCE

Domestic violence is one of the most unsettling aspects of our society. Not only does it involve people who have a supposed love for one another, it is very often hidden away, the victim's fear causing the crime to go unreported. Despite the veil that frequently shields these injuries from public view, the long-range impact can be dramatic. In Cape Girardeau, at least, there is a means to defuse this problem and get abuse victims out of harm's way. We applaud the work of the Safe House for Women in Cape Girardeau.

With tragic clarity, the worth of a local safe house was spelled out recently with the shooting death of a 22-year-old woman who sought refuge from an abusive boyfriend at a relative's house. Two relatives, her 49-year-old mother and her 11-month-old son, were also killed in the assault. Had the woman retreated to the safe house, with its confidential location, the triple murder might never have occurred.

Obviously, not all abuse cases are carried to this dreadful result. However, battering is the most common cause of injury to women in the United States ... more than auto accidents, muggings and rapes combined. Six million American women are beaten by males each year ... and those are just the reported cases. In addition to this immediate suffering, there are long-range consequences to a violent home environment: Studies indicate that children who grow up in these grim circumstances tend to recycle this abusive behavior.

The local safe house (directed by Rebecca Payne, herself a former victim of spouse abuse, and managed capably by a community board) is a haven for women wanting to escape violent situations in their homes. A shelter hotline (651-1614) is staffed around the clock and all days of the year. Supported by a stipend from the Missouri Department of Public Safety, the Area Wide United Way and other donated funds, the safe house is, regrettably, a rarity in the state. Cape Girardeau County is one of only 14 counties in the state to have such a facility, addressing a need that knows no political subdivisions.

While it seems counter-intuitive, it takes women an average of five to six times to leave a violent situation. In Cape Girardeau, we are pleased these women have a place to go, a refuge where they can be safe, regroup and consider their next actions. Until our society rids itself of those who batter their spouses (unfortunately, the day will probably never come), facilities like the Safe House for Women in Cape Girardeau will provide a necessary service to their communities.