janice of Fairfield, ME A very powerful sharing from Naomi, a thoughtful writer who has furnished many articles in the past. Seems I recall Naomi attempting to interview neighbors near the horrible incident leading to this death............The act of raising his hands in the manner of two pistols after the conviction clearly illustrates the desire to inflict fear, domination and violence. May the man be contained indefinitely............School based programs discussing such issues seem essential. Braking the silence is necessary.report abuse

Paul Vaillancourt of Kansas City, MO Also, people need to realize that women aren't the only ones who are abused. Men are often abused by women who are their wives or girlfriends. It may not always be in a physical manner, but verbal and emotional abuse can be just as damaging to a person. I know...I'm a survivor.report abuse

Leon Richard of Farmington, ME When dealing with illegal and potentially deadly force directed at you, I see little alternative to arming oneself and taking appropriate and legal measures to insure your own safety.

Protection orders are a tool for law enforcement to use to lock up someone who continues to menace someone who has asked for one to be served. Unfortunately, this process has been abused by those seeking to manipulate the "abuser" into submission and compliance. They get the order, then rather than obey the order themselves and enforce it vigorously, they invite the "abuser" back into the home. They go out to eat dinner with the "abuser". When the "abuser" gets "out of hand" they threaten to call the police and have the "abuser" arrested.

Anyone who files a protection order against another person, and then violates that order themselves, should bear the full weight of the court for violating it themselves, as well as the "defendant".

Nobody, male or female, should have to live life afraid of what may come next. Nobody should have to live a life that a "good day" just means nobody is abusing them that day. Nobody.

And nobody should ever be ignored when abuse is reported. It should not be tolerated from anyone.

This should not be tolerated. To deal with it, it must be dragged out into the open sunlight where it will whither and die. No different really, on a separate level, than sexual abuse. Until we acknowledge it, it will continue. While we cover it up, and hope it will go away, it festers into something worse.report abuse

Stana McLeod of Fairfield, ME Thank you for sharing your painful experiences in life. When we were young and life was not good at home, we thought everyone lived the same way. Luckily you were able to break out of that and find a better life. Congrats to you! Richard Reynolds can never be punished enough for what he has done to the Wakefield family. He has changed their lives forever and could care less about it. Is it a very sad situation.report abuse