"The law mentions one blow, but with one blow you can kill someone," says a young mom hiding in a shelter. "What kind of husbands, what kind of families, will we have with that law? Is that normal?"
The case has raised questions about the NFL's willingness to punish domestic abusers. "Our beliefs, our judgments and our decisions were misguided," the team's president said.
After New York Giants kicker Josh Brown was arrested for assaulting his wife in 2015, the NFL investigated and suspended him — for one game. But newly released documents show a history of abuse.
Many communities have enacted nuisance laws to make sure renters aren't disturbing their neighbors. Trouble is, victims — especially of domestic abuse — often end up penalized for calling the police.
In a minority of cases, violent behavior accompanies post-traumatic stress disorder. Military spouses can become victims, and there are few resources around to help them.