Domestic Violence: A Terribly Common Reality

Tom Martino, the infamous radio talk show host and consumer advocate in Denver, was arrested over the weekend for assault and disturbing the peace.

According to police documents, he and his wife were in their car when they started arguing over a mobile phone. His wife allegedly tried to get out of the car at a stoplight, at which point, Mr. Martino is accused of pulling her back into the car and punching her in the face. The two then drove home, where he was arrested. In an apology statement issued by Mr. Martino after he was released from jail, he admitted that both he and his wife were drunk at the time of the incident.

Here is a story about his arrest:


Click here to watch the video if it does not appear above.

Aside from the issue of drinking and driving, for which Mr. Martino was not arrested, there is the issue of domestic violence. The majority of domestic violence incidents do not make the news. In fact, if news organizations covered every domestic violence arrest, there would be absolutely no time for anything else.

According to the National Institute of Justice and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 25% of women will experience a domestic violence incident at some point in their lives. They estimate that 1.3 million women are abused each year, with 20-24 year-old women being at the greatest level of risk. Most domestic abuse incidents are not reported to the police.

According to the National Safety Council, here are the five most dangerous activities in which a woman can engage:

1. Attempt suicide

2. Ride in a car

3. Expose herself to noxious vapors (like carbon monoxide from a faulty furnace)

4. Fall

5. Live with a man

Not the cheeriest of thoughts, is it?

Thanks for reading-- Max Wachtel, Ph.D.
www.CherryCreekPsychology.com
www.Twitter.com/mwachtel
www.Facebook.com/drmaxwachtel

Posted in: 9 News,anger,domestic violence