Letter: We must do more to help women in crisis

I too was "shocked and saddened" when seeing the front page article in the Daily Herald on Dec. 6 "Police: Buffalo Grove man killed family, then self". Finality to what many of us probably suspected. Another instance of a violent, abusive man horrifically murdering his wife and two beautiful little girls.

I went on to read how Buffalo Grove Village President Beverly Sussman led a moment of silence for the family at the village board meeting. It was nice to hear that she took the time to acknowledge the tragedy and describe the tears that came to her own eyes.

She then went on to say how it was just so "very sad that the family couldn't straighten out the problems they were having with counseling."

Wait, what? Is she kidding? This was a man who threatened to kill and disfigure his wife "in a way no one will recognize her." This is a man who violated the order of protection put in place to protect his family. This is the man that Vera Kisliak told a neighbor she knew would kill her one day. THEY needed counseling?

No, I'm sorry. This was not a couple that had "grown apart" or "didn't feel understood." This was domestic violence, which is about control, manipulation, and instilling fear.

In this instance, we aren't talking about the fear of your husband bruising you, which is bad enough, but fear that he will kill you, or worse, your children.

As a society, we don't do enough to help women in this desperate situation. We see the writing on the wall, then cry about it when the writing becomes manifest.

Laura McGovern

Gilberts