Words that should be banned: domestic dispute

Today's words: domestic dispute.

When a man is charged with murdering his wife and four children, it is called a "domestic dispute."

The man in question, a Mr. Michael Simmons of North Charleston, South Carolina, allegedly entered the home of the family and shot the victims with a handgun on Sunday, October 1. He then tried to drive away.

The children's ages were 6, 8, 13, and 16. The mother was 39.

This typist felt that that the term "domestic dispute" might have understated the crime somewhat. So, I consulted my Oxford Online Dictionary.

Domestic, used as an adjective is defined as:
1 relating to a home or family affairs or relations.
2 of or for use in the home.

Dispute used as a noun is defined as
1 an argument.
2 a disagreement between management and employees that leads to industrial action.

Nowhere under the terms "domestic" or "dispute" did I find the words "murder wife and four children with a handgun." In fact, I did not see any reference to killing, shooting, or conducting oneself in a violent manner.

A domestic dispute occurs when two occupants of the same household argue over who should take out the garbage or tidy up the dishes after supper. Sometimes domestic disputes can occur over issues of an emotional nature. A domestic dispute can even lead to divorce.

But does dispute denote murder? In war, are soldiers killed in military disputes? No.They are killed in an ambush or attack. Sometimes it is a slaughter. But when a man shoots his wife and her four children, the act is reduced to a dispute of a domestic nature.

What a pity that the typists in the media and law enforcement institutions choose to diminish this crime with their ill-choosen words.