It may come as a surprise to some women in this country, however,
in 31 states rapists are able to sue for custody and visitation rights when
their victim carries the child of their assault to term. It seems that in
many cases this is not a matter of "father's" rights being
legislated so much as it is a matter of there being no law against a rapist
insinuating himself into the lives of his victim and offspring in perpetuity.
What women choose to do about a pregnancy that
stems from rape is an absolutely individual and personal decision that no one,
least of all the bloody state, should have a right to comment on. When she
decides to keep the child there should be no question of her assailant having
the right to use the courts to violate her again.
Many legislators, cowards that they are,
seem to have determined that it is best to leave this issue in the hands of
the judicial branch. Nonetheless, ideological bias, religious intolerance and
frightful misogyny are not unknown to the bench. Therefore, it is
imperative that state governments take a clear stand on the side of the victim
and her child, refusing to allow a violent offender to force his way into
another area of her life.
What follows is a link that will give you an idea of where your state and others stand in this matter.
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