Today marks the beginning of the month-long observance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, but it won’t make any difference until we all realize that this is a problem that destroys families and impacts entire communities.

Domestic violence continues to be one of the most dangerous problems facing law enforcement and families alike. The statistics vary but as many as half or more of the calls that Lawrence County law enforcement agencies respond to each year are domestic-violence related.

Most of the murders that have occurred in the county in recent years have also been domestic related.

Yet, for whatever reason, far too many people do not believe this is a real problem and do not think it is their problem.

That couldn’t be farther from the truth.

Domestic violence impacts us all because it makes our communities less safe and threatens our friends and neighbors.

Also, this crime takes crucial resources from law enforcement that could be used elsewhere.

Domestic violence will never go away until we as a society do a better job of educating our youth and self-policing our families and our friends.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month is a good place to start and the second annual observance slated for next week is a step in the right direction.

Now each and every citizen must take it upon his or herself to make this the first step rather than the last.