One article in TheTownTalk.com which serves Alexandria, Pineville and Central Louisiana titled “Our View: Victims of Abuse Need Help -- Right Now” points out that Louisiana has the highest rates of deaths due to domestic violence, this according to the FBI.

Some of the reasons the abuse victims have given for not leaving are lack of resources, having cultural or religious beliefs that discourage or prohibit them from leaving, or having no place to go if she wanted to leave, the belief that the abuser will change his behaviour (we all know that rarely if ever happens) or the abuser will harm or kill her or her children or family members if she does leave. You can read the article http://www.thetowntalk.com/article/20100205/OPINION/2050337.

The other article “Recent Slayings Expose Scourge of Domestic Violence” talks about two women who were allegedly killed by their live-in boyfriends”.  You can read the entire article http://www.thetowntalk.com/article/20100204/NEWS01/2040341/Recent-slayings-expose-scourge-of-domestic-violence.

In recent days I have posted blogs with the names of women who have died at the hands of their husband or boyfriend. These posts are difficult to write. And all week I have been trying t o find some light and I think I have found it.

The article “Recent Slayings Expose Scourge of Domestic Violence” lists the name of a shelter that is trying to help the victims, Turning Point Battered Women’s Program. Turning Point is a 37 bed facility that provides counseling, education, resources, group therapy and many outreach programs are also available..

I commend TheTownTalk.com for reporting these stories!

There are many organizations across the country that are helping women break the cycle of violence in their lives and Turning Point is just one of them.