The two recent acts of violence against women within the Town of Orangeville certainly cry out for a renewed focus on proactive involvement at all levels of society. It is imperative that we learn to take every threat, every questionable act as a very clear message to protect those whose gender puts them at increased risk.

Having experienced the dark side of violence against one of our own family members in recent years, our family has lived the danger - and it is an all-encompassing fear and outright violation of one's life and lifestyle that is the result. When in that situation, one looks for compassion, understanding and action from both law enforcement and the justice system.

Too often, however, it is the rights of the perpetrator that gain momentum within our system and the victim is left to question her own involvement, intentions and vulnerability. It is high time that all levels of government and local authorities view this as a wake-up call! It is time for the good people in society to band together and shout "We're not going to take this anymore!"

It is time that any threat towards a female is taken deadly seriously. It is time for men to take responsibility in educating and empowering other men to take an active role in eradicating "violence against women". It is time to hold perpetrators totally accountable for their acts of violence. It is time to demand that the victim be given rights.

Alas, as a Crown Attorney stoically said to our family when the punishment certainly did not seem to even approach the crime against one of our family members, "After all, it is called the Criminal Justice System". The threat, ultimately though, is not only to individual women and their families, but also to the whole fabric of the community. The whole community suffers when violence occurs.

Let's change the course of action before yet other local women find themselves as victims.

Every threat is a deadly serious threat!

A caring husband and father