Rapists Rights: Thirty-one States Give Rapists the Same Rights as 'Legitimate' Fathers!

Hi Leslie... we have reversed the bus somewhere along the road and forgotten the difference between right and wrong. To think of such a violation and then reward it after and call the "It" responsible a father... come on give me a break... Now I am all lathered up... gads I just do not understand society.

Hugs from Alberta

A fight we shouldn't be having!! Very nice read

A very moving video and hub, Imkarn23. I will thank Poetvix for sharing it on Facebook, or I wouldn't have seen it. Thank you for this hub.

Hi Leslie.. sometimes I don't feel like the rape victims have any rights..

but thank you girlfriend for writing this for all the rape victims out there that are swept under the rug..

sharing

blessings

Debbie

I'm packed and ready to go. lol

You go girl. This one is so important and I could not agree more with your recommendations for letting the rapist choose his fate. Justice in America is only for those who can afford a good lawyer. It has nothing to do with fairness or equality. It has little to do with victims and more about protecting the rights of the perp. Voting way up and sharing everywhere!

I really don't believe that a criminal should have any rights. After all, haven't they sacrificed theirs for Crime? Food, shelter, medical care, love, respect, etc. fall under 'mercy' or things we acquire through WORK, sweating and stressing all the way. Anyway, this is quite a complicated and controversial social issue. I think every case has its own merits.

Wish we could eliminate all criminals, and especially rapers and murderers, via a computer detecting evil thought patterns in the brain....

Leslie, I have personally experienced the degradation of rape and the nightmares that creep up from time to time, no matter how long ago it happened. I can't imagine having a child as the result. Furthermore, I can't imagine the perpretator having the balls to try to remain in my life!

Leslie, this is absolutely appalling! The rapist has rights to the child???? Are you %*@## kidding me? I don't even want to go into it. However, I must say Shauna Hewlett's interview was awesome and the fact that she chose to have her little girl and loves her is even more awesome. I just feel sorry for the little girl when she learns the truth. The two of them are going to go thru so much emotional turmoil. Then again, maybe not. Hopefully her daughter will realize just how much she loves her and has always loved her.

I feel for both of them deeply.

Oh yes, he is a brilliant man for sure. Gotta love people who glory in their ignorance.

And now the Senator from Indiana, gee, another Republican, says a woman getting pregnant by rape is a life created and meantto be by god? Yet another insult to women and everyone's intelligence.

The Right to go to jail.

The Right to a lobotomy.

The Right to be raped, quid pro quo

Amen Sister - Amen...

♥

May I add a #4 to your list please: 'The right to have 'it' cut off!' OK? Go ahead and put your statement back in...it's ok to do.

I share the same sentiments as everyone here. It makes me angry too.

Every time I read this I cringe because I know this is true.. first hand experience.. it is awful.. I pray for all these victims.. as a victim this happened to me and remember the horror they put me through..it causes so many problems..

many blessings to you again for writing this

sharing

Debbie

August 29th, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) told the Washington Post. "We're not generating enough angry white guys to stay in business for the long term."

How is the GOP planning on solving this problem?

Apparently, by redefining "rape" to legitimize it and outlawing abortion and most forms of contraceptives.

Good article! Voted up!

Voted up, useful and interesting. A short and to the point snippet that bears a lot of truth about a horrible and despicable decision to treat women as "less than" when it comes to not only the trauma, mental and physical abuse of rape, but then to consider they need to carry the criminals child to term. We are going in a downward and backward spiral and it is not for good of humankind.

Amen!

To be honest... I don't know why we are so surprised to hear this kind of statements and laws. Looking back at the history of the United States, or any Country for that matter, we still are in the early stages of women's rights. In the last hundred years we have come a long way. But there are still basic God given rights that women still have to fight for, like our dignity.

Is ironic that the segment of people that condone this type of discrimination are the same people that condemned abortion. Then again, ostracizing the rape victims and the children that are product of this despicable event. Is a game of "you are dammed if you do , and dammed if you don't"

Unfortunaly, in this country, criminals have more rights that law abiding citizens. But that is another hub. In my opinion, rapists, pedophiles and murderers should be treated as such. Incurable , un- treatable disease. They should indeed be castrated, among other things.And until this world comes to terms with that, there will always be a victim crying in the dark. Great hub.

That sickens me to no end to think that rapists have the same rights as other fathers. Seriously? What is this world coming to? Interesting, educational, post ImKarn. I am floored.

I am at a loss for words - it is hard to conceive this to be even remotely possible... pun intended. Castration and jail could be what I would have thought would be what was justified.

It is so gratifying to find a place where the comments are so intelligent...

But I have a question... I see that HubPages allow Author's to read the posts before they are posted... did you get responses from idiots who rabidly disagree with you? If so thank you for so kindly ...not forcing us to read... because that always takes the discussion away from the topic and on to what an idiot the responder is... However, if you did get responses like that, I'd be interested in hearing how many... just a # will do. :)

Unreal. I was astonished when I heard his answer on the radio about how women don't conceive as a result of rape and just made it sound like no big deal. Uh...it is a big deal! I can't believe that rapists have paternal rights! Why would someone even think of having that as a law?

ImKarn23, I applaud you on bringing this OUTRAGEOUS statistic and information to the hubpages community on a subject I have very strong opinions on. Rapists should not be afforded rights, end of. A close friend of mine experienced this here many years ago and the scars it has left are deep. I am shocked that so many states in the grand ol U.S of A takes this stance. Congrats on highlighting such a devastating situation. Voted and shared on.

Sharing because I care as you do. This is taking back 400 years of morals and rights for women. I'm just disgusted and in rage for what those 31 retrograde states consider a right. Unbelievable! Don't want to use the cliche word, "only in America," because is happening all over the world.

I hope that this hub reaches out to touch women and men in Missouri!

I have been here for awhile, listening to Shauna Prewitt's story. I hope Akin watches it and feels shame. To be raped, then told that there is no chance of becoming pregnant while being raped must have hurt her deeply. I hope that every woman in Missouri will think about his ignorant comment and vote accordingly. His remark sounds like something out of the 60's. We have come too far to go back. This is a GREAT article. I salute you. Thank you..

okay leslie.. I know what its like to be raped.. they are animals.. they should have NO RIGHTS.. !!! I am not too busy for you my friend..

I read that in the newspaper about that stupid Todd Akin opened his stupid mouth. I say he needs to be raped ... this is a great hub.. I agree wholeheartley with you... these animals do not deserve to live..

sharing

Debbie

According to the Daily Kos... the following states have laws or provisions that at least limit a rapists' visitation and custody rights: Alaska, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Missouri (Akin's state: "biological father's guilty plea or conviction of forcible rape of the birth mother is conclusive evidence to termination of his rights"), Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Wisconsin. The States not mentioned, including the one I live in... apparently have no legal limitations on Rapists claiming visitation or custody rights. (That doesn't mean they would get them]... but they can torture their victim again with the threat... SHIT! did you notice that the Missouri Law says 'Forcible Rape!!!! ... Redundant idiots..

Now this is something I never heard of... and I spent a lot of years as a Child Custody Mediator. Of course that was in California, and the law allowed some pretty iffy parents contact with their kids... but this is beyond bizarre.

What a beautiful person this young lady is. I hope she is emulated.

Just shows those out of touch rich white males in charge of the so-called 'justice system.' Yet it seems those same idiots cannot seem to enforce child support. what jerks!

Something needs to be done about this... this is the most important hub i've read in awhile... and i'm wondering is it just me, or is the world (our part of it anyway) going CRAZY!!!! We can stand by and let this pencil pushers who are so far removed from the real world abuse women like this. thank you for writing this one , I for one am going to look further into this... and some voices need to be heard Wow.

Voted up and sharing ... I have to

Am I crazy in my way of seeing thing? It seems that male view points on female issues is getting most of the media attention.

You left out option number four - castration.

It's time that politicians woke from their wealthy slumber and started working for the benefits they reap. The idea that the rapist could be a part of the victim's life forever in the custody arena has to be classified as cruel and inhuman treatment. It's time people started using the brains they were given and get the inadequate political puppets to big business out of office, or as this last week demonstrated, hopefully keep them out of office! Every one of them should be in a state of shame and disgrace if their state has this type of law on the books. Thanks for the enlightenment! Great Job!

I found it incredible reading this that there are idiots in power who believe that a woman cannot biologically get pregnant from a "legitimate" rape, what a moron. No ra[ist should ever have any rights involving the child. They are not 'fit' to live in society let alone have custodey or even visitation rights.

My, my Missy L. the fire within you continues to rage on...good for you!!!

I love your spirit and the wisdom of your words as you continue to spread the message of equality and harm against women and their children as your heart sees injustices of this world.

I see you and love you! me

This is disgusting. How can this country criticize other countries for human rights violations, when we have women's rights, as well as other human rights being violated, as a point of law.

I did not know this. I hope that Oregon is not one of the thirty-one, but I'll bet I can guess a few that are... Up!

Oh, and look at that GOP platform for further evidence if any is needed about their war on women.

People who deny a "war on women" really need to wake up. The sad thing is I know women who vote for the likes of these clowns like the idiot from Missouri and I can't for the life of me understand it. Even for those who aren't pro-choice, to vote for a man who believes that a woman cannot biologically get pregnant from a "legitimate" rape, is a slap in the face to all women. As long as we have loons who actually believe stuff like this able to hold positions of power, we will never get past the laws on the books that give rapists rights to be fathers. It boggles the mind truly - thanks for calling such important issues to attention in your hubs! Voted up and shared.

I rarely listen to entire videos, but did this one. I thought I was through with the shock from the remark,s the idiot,Todd Akin made, but to know the rapist has any rights is unbelievable....back to my state of shock. I sure hope this topic stays in the media and laws change. Good hub.

If these rapists are entitled to custody and visitation, it would makes sense that they SHOULD pay child support. If these 31 states give these animals rights, the victim should have the right to request child support.

But of course, that would never happen I'm sure. It's almost as if men are say "Ya bro!! Good job impregnating that b^%ch." Women are obviously a major threat to men and the patriarchal control of this society. Otherwise we wouldn't be having this discussion, and we'd have the same rights as men.

This is a sickening issue. I really don't know how Shawna Prewitt was able to have her child. She's definitely a courageous woman. In her shoes, I would not have done the same.

That's insane. The fact that he was convicted for such a crime, should automatically be considered an unfit parent, and have no rights to sue for custody.

I like you angry Leslie! We need more angry people in the world, shouting from the mountaintops that this stuff is not alright! We have become a complacent society, as I talk about in my hub today, and we have adopted an attitude that as long as it doesn't happen to me, then everything is okay. Things are not okay....this society we live in is sick and broken.

Great hub, one everyone should read....and then act upon.