About

“War On Abuse” is a blog of J. J. Smith, founder and president of the Lillian Smith Family Violence Foundation, which creates media messages and organizes public education efforts to help prevent and reduce  family violence across DFW and Northeast Texas.

Our non-profit organization was originally founded in 2000 and re-established in 2006 by advertising and public relations consultant J.J. Smith, as a memorial to his murdered mother, Lillian Smith.

In 1958, when J.J. was just ten years old, he witnessed his abusive father shoot and kill his mother, just before his dad also committed suicide in front of him, concluding years of violence and threats in their home.

This blog records the thoughts, opinions and efforts of J. J., other Foundation members and other concerned citizens across DFW as we work to eliminate family violence across the Metro area and beyond.

The time has come for our us and our entire nation to rise up and wage a war on abuse, just as effectively as we are battling against terror and drugs.

Do you realize, for example, that more women have been murdered by their mates in the United States since 9-11-01 than all of the military deaths in the War on Terror?

FAMILY VIOLENCE AN UNNECESSARY EPIDEMIC

Domestic violence has exploded across Dallas-Ft. Worth and the U.S. into a “public health crisis” of epidemic proportions, according to the U.S. Surgeon General as far back as in 1996!

Year after year across Dallas-Ft. Worth and the nation, millions of men and boys continue to get away with physically, sexually, verbally, emotionally and psychologically assaulting our nation’s women and children.

The assaults are so widespread that family violence is the leading cause of injury to women and children in America, according to the CDC. It’s also the number one reason for hospital emergency room visits, according to the American College of Emergency Physicians.

ONE IN FOUR WOMEN ASSAULTED

One in four women in the U.S. report having been either physically and/or sexually assaulted at some point during their lives by either their husband, boyfriend or ex.

In addition, one-half of the males who assault women also assault and abuse their children.

ONE IN SIX WOMEN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED

Sexual assaults and child abuse/neglect pose additional serious dangers to women and children.

One in six - or eighteen million - women have been sexually assaulted, according to RAIIN. 

Plus an astounding one in four girls and 1 in eight boys will be sexually assaulted before they reach 18 – 90% by someone the victim knows!

“Stranger Danger” is not the major problem!  

MAJORITY OF ABUSED/NEGLECTED CHILDREN UNDER 5

Over one million children are neglected (65%) or abused (35%) annually. Eighty percent are under just five years of age!

Biological parents are generally responsible (90%) for neglect – not feeding, clothing and providing properly for children - especially parents who are abusing drugs.

Young, uneducated mothers are the primary child abusers. According to the CDC, the likelihood of child abuse is particularly high among black and Hispanic populations.

DATING ABUSE: THE NEW CRISIS

Because family violence is raging out of control nationwide, and kids follow the examples of their parents and adults in their lives, dating violence among teens and young adults has become the newest crisis.

Seventy-five percent of 16 to 24 year-old Texans either have been personally involved or know someone who has been involved in dating abuse. One in 2 of that age group reports having been personally involved. 

MOST STREET CRIME STARTS IN FAMILIES  

Family violence is also a major cause of street crime, according to the U.S. Attorney General’s office, overflowing from homes into the streets. It results in millions of murders, attempted murders, drive-by shootings, assaults, rapes, armed robberies and numerous other violent crimes.

Additional statistics:

• Up to 10 million children witness family violence annually – over 40%  follow that example
• Over 90% of criminals on death row in Texas prisons experienced family violence as children
• Less than 25% of family violence assaults are ever reported for various reasons
• In 85% of reported cases, males are the offenders
• 13% of teenage girls who said they have been in a relationship report being physically hurt or hit
• 1 in 3 teens report knowing a friend or peer who has been hit, punched, kicked, choked or physically hurt by their partner

Thanks for visiting my blog. Please also visit our website at www.lilliansmith.org. It’s currently undergoing reconstruction.