Without a restraining order, it is much harder to get the police to respond to harassing or stalking behaviors from someone. The restraining order certainly wouldn't be enough in a life-threatening situation, but it is one tool.

It makes perfect sense if the person is likely to kill/harm you in a fit of passion.

If the harasser could get carried away in an argument and start beating, but didn't leave the house planning to kill, then restraining orders can limit the time the harasser is around you and limit the time before they 'blow their cool'. When the harasser breaks the restraining order and comes near you "just to talk, I promise", you can get the police involved straight away, and the harasser can be hauled off before they lose their cool.

It's true that it isn't nearly as effective as you'd hope but it does help enhance your ability to get the police quickly involved, establish a paper trail, etc.

None of that matters if you are dead.

If someone is out to kill you, go hide with relatives, some ways not too close. Don't serve them with a restraining order.

>If someone is out to kill you, go hide with relatives, some ways not too close.

Define not too close. My closest relatives are over 200 miles away. Am I expected to quit my job? Take my children (If I had them) out of school? For how long?

This person may know exactly who all your relatives are and where they live, thus know exactly where to find you anyways.

I think the real answer is "don't take advice from HN". I know someone who moved halfway across the country to avoid domestic violence. Sometimes it is an answer. It shouldn't ever need to be, but in reality, it's sometimes the only option a woman has available.

So let's create some new options like restraining orders.

Fair enough for that literal description, meaning that the parent poster was sloppy. But at some point between an unfriendly breakup and literal threats of murder, the restraining order is the right response. I think that's the key point.

Oh sure. I would even say a "credible threat of murder."

If you are served a restraining order, you almost always already know these locations. If you don't know these locations, there is almost no reason to serve a restraining order.

Some of the people replying here clearly have no experience with stalking or domestic violence... They are much more scary than you can imagine.