Reply #5: In "The Gift of Fear", DeBecker shows that restraining orders...

[GreenStormCloud]

often are the item that trigger a violently inclinded person into their attacks. A RO gives the ability to prosecute AFTER the RO is violated. It does nothing to protect the person being threatened. An RO also helps establish the level of danger is the person has to defend themselves from the attacker. The woman should have armed herself and been ready when the RO was delivered.

I strongly reccomend to anyone to read The Gift of Fear.