What do you radical feminists have to say about this?

Read the links. In particular, look at the top one, third page, where it states in the middle that 40 to 50 percent of restraining orders are strategic ploys. In the fight against domestic violence, we have denied men constitutional rights of due process and presumption of innocence. Do feminists think that it is justified to strip half of the population of civil rights to combat domestic violence?
http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/1999/10...
http://www.stephenbaskerville.net/no_res...

Oh okay, Susie, I get it. It's okay to strip men of constitutional rights if you've seen abuse. Exactly the feminist pile of crap that I expected. There is this one thing called the Constitution that would say otherwise. After all, there's all sorts of violent crimes, and we don't cross the line to stop them. Don't you care about those wrongly accused? What if it were your father or brother, or friend?

Yes. If you could do worse, believe me they would.

I am not a "feminist" per say - but I will say this, I think those figures are skewed to meet the needs of the writer, and until you have either been abused or seen the product of abuse then I really don't think you get to talk too much about men's constitutional rights.
Women died every single day at the hands of an abuser, and until we figure out a better way to protect the victims then the restraining order system is all we have.

Susie D: So because a few assholes (population wise I mean) beat their wives, the rest of us men have no right to make sure that the pendulum doesn't swing too far against us? Unjustly far, that is.

If I ever get married, I hope that its not to a woman that would use such tactics against me if a divorce is involved.

It is easier for a jury/judge to believe a man beat his wife, than a wife to lie about being abused to gain custody of children/more allimony/child support/etc.

Because of this, I've debated getting married at all.

Think about how you would feel if every night you came home to abuse. Someone threatening your life and safety and not being able to do much about it except get a restraining order to get time to run away before they kill you. Ever been punched in the face by a man? Imagine living with him!!!!! In order to get a restraining order there is a court date and a judge decides whether it is necessary or not. (At least in Chicago) Screw your statistics and live it for one day. You might change your mind.

The articles seem skewed to the writers opinion.

While I agree that not all restraining orders are issued fairly, I have to say that if there is error, it is better to error in favor of the abused.

While we are on the subject...it has been my experience that divorcing or separated parents turn into real a**holes when it comes to "who gets what" and both turn their anger upon the children. Neither parent gives a dam about the children and will use the kids as whips against each other.

If a marriage falls apart, divorce should be handled with as much care as the marriage was. There is fairness in all things. If there are children, each parent should be especially sensitive.

The father usually resents that he leaves the marital home, has to pay child support (which he thinks is unfair, unfair, unfair), sometimes he has to pay alimony (even MORE unfair). He becomes a martyr in his own mind. This leads to "pity me" behavior and a bad attitude. He will put his wife down in every conversation he has. She is a leech, she "took me to the cleaners", she is a bit** - etc.

Women, on the other hand, become the "victim" and demand that she get everything. She suddenly becomes unable to work and hold down a job, becomes needy and must have more, more, more alimony, child support. She uses the children as a tool to get back at her husband. She becomes a martyred wife.

And, stuck in the middle are the kids who don't understand anything, love both parents - want to see both of them. Many times, the kids think the breakup is somehow their fault. But do the parents care? Nope...they just keep yakking at each other without regard.

There is an easy way to get a divorce. There is an easy way to facilitate visitation where the parents never have to see each other. But, most parents enjoy their martyrdom and will milk it for all it's worth.