This editorial appeared in The Fresno Bee.
We are entering the holiday season, a joyful time when we connect with friends and family members. Unfortunately, it's also a time when domestic violence increases.
There are many reasons. There's great stress during the holiday season and that adds to family conflicts in homes prone to violence. That's often exacerbated by excessive alcohol consumption and worry over holiday spending. Those issue are heightened during this difficult economy.
Wouldn't the best holiday gift to our children be a community where domestic violence is unheard of? But that's not the real world and too often, domestic violence occurs in front of children we should be protecting.
Studies tell us that when children see domestic violence in their homes, they get the message that abusive behavior is normal. Many grow up to continue the cycle of abuse.
To read the complete editorial, visit The Fresno Bee.