By: Tony Merriweather
One of the biggest issues that has been brought up over the past month is issue of domestic violence. Did you know that:
- 1 in 4 women will experience domestic violence during her lifetime.
- Women experience more than 4 million physical assaults and rapes because of their partners, and men are victims of nearly 3 million physical assaults.
- Women are more likely to be killed by an intimate partner than men
- Women ages 20 to 24 are at greatest risk of becoming victims of domestic violence.
- Every year, 1 in 3 women who is a victim of homicide is murdered by her current or former partner.
I am bringing up this issue today due to the circumstances that over the past 4 four months there have been 3 domestic violence cases involving NFL players with little to nothing done about it. The most popular incident involved ex-Ravens running back Ray Rice and his then fiancé (now wife) Janay Rice. No charges were filed and Rice was initially hit with a two-game suspension. Just last week TMZ released a video showing that Rice had struck his fiancé in the face, her hitting the elevator rail, which knocked her unconscious. After the video had surfaced across the country, Rice was then released by the Ravens and suspended indefinitely by the NFL.
The issue I am bringing up today is why? Why didn't the NFL have harsh domestic violence rules implemented in the 1st place? Why did it wait until something serious like the Ray Rice incident happened? Realistically, they waited until AFTER the incident. Just days after Rice's two-game suspension, the NFL implemented new domestic violence rules stating that your 1st offense would be a six game suspension and your second offense will be a lifetime ban. Commissioner Goodell has also hired 4 female officials who have experience on domestic violence issues to help out on NFL domestic violence cases. The point that I am bringing up today is that these rules should have been in place a long time ago. That fact that it had to come down to this Ray Rice incident for things to start happening just is not good enough. As individuals we must never wait until something happens to take action. It is important we be proactive and take better initiative on important issues such as domestic violence facing us today.
This was a big ticket incident that happened recently. My question is, why now all of a sudden are people addressing domestic violence in this capacity? It has been an issues well before Ray Rice was involved in it.
ReplyDeleteDomestic violence has plagued our society for decades, however it only receives recognition as a result of someone of prominence being involved. Basic human rights have been compromised time and time again. Our society appears to be on a downward spiral.
ReplyDeleteVery insightful, I think this pattern is fairly consistent with the NFL. They wait for things to happen as opposed to anticipating.
ReplyDeleteI don't necessarily feel that Rice should be suspended indefinitely from the league he should be governed under the rules and procedures that have recently been put in place seeing as though there was no previous concrete punishment written down prior to the incident. I'm not down playing the situation, because he was defiantly wrong. I just feel that it is more fair.
ReplyDeleteI agree, the NFL should have already had rules implemented on domestic abuse, but now that domestic violence is being addressed at this capacity, the NFL has to take a stronger stance. I feel that it may take incidents like these to make better, harsher rules on domestic abuse within the NFL.
ReplyDeleteNice post. I agree as well, I feel as though the past incidents that have occurred, have put the national spotlight on domestic violence, especially within the NFL. It is disappointing that it took the Ray Rice incident to put an awareness on this cause. The NFL should already have rules addressed to domestic abuse.
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