The spousal abuse laws allow the police to press charges when the woman won't, which is not true of more generic assault cases. It's also much easier to get a restraining order in a domestic abuse case. And in many states, restraining orders carry restrictions on firearm ownership. But I see your point - why is assault on an acquaintance a misdemeanour, when assault on family is a felony?
The explanation that jumps to mind immediately is pretty simple:
In violent assault against "acquaintances" the victims are most likely (~ 80%, if I remember the statistic correctly) to be male. The domestic assault laws tend to be pushed by feminist lobbies. Those same lobbies have no vested interest in aiding or protecting men, thus only those laws which disporportionately benefit women get pushed by them.
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(Anonymous) 2006-10-17 07:24 pm (UTC)(link)In violent assault against "acquaintances" the victims are most likely (~ 80%, if I remember the statistic correctly) to be male. The domestic assault laws tend to be pushed by feminist lobbies. Those same lobbies have no vested interest in aiding or protecting men, thus only those laws which disporportionately benefit women get pushed by them.
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