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Wed, 02 May 2001 02:46:42 -0700
CHICAGO, /PRNewswire/ -- As a whirlwind of state laws legalizing
maternal child abandonment sweeps the nation, proponents use sensational
stories of child tragedies to justify them. Twenty-two states have passed
such measures and many others are considering similar bills.
In Illinois, the proposed Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act would
allow new mothers to drop off unwanted babies at hospitals or other "safe
places" -- no questions asked, about the dad or otherwise, presuming the child
shows no signs of abuse. "The proposed Act, as written, would deny fathers
even simple notice that they are going to irrevocably lose a child," contends
author/attorney Jeffery M. Leving. "The law gives a mother, whose state of
mind is questionable at best, the power to completely annihilate the
father-child relationship. This is, quite simply, not fair," continues
Leving. At the mother's sole choice, the child and father will lose each
other forever.
This proposed law apparently assumes these fathers are as unwilling to
handle parental responsibilities as the mothers who have just abandoned their
children. Are we to consider the father is also willing to abandon his own
child because he is male? If so, this assumption takes gender bias to a new
and even lower level.
"What would happen if the father were to take the baby to drop off at a
'safe place' without notifying the mother? Would we still see this in the
same light?" asks Leving.
"There are other options available, such as giving the unwanted child to
the father," says Leving. "Or this Act could be revised to mandate paternal
rights. But usurping the rights of biological fathers is simply not a viable
option."
Jeffery M. Leving is a leading national spokesperson on gender issues.
The Chicago-based attorney helped reunite Elian Gonzalez with his father, and
co-authored the Illinois Joint Custody Law. Leving recently received a
congressional appointment to serve on the newly created U.S. Congressional
Task Force on Fathers, Families & Public Policy. A frequent media guest
expert, Leving has appeared on Nightline (ABC), Larry King Live (CNN), Equal
Time with Oliver North and Paul Begala (MSNBC) among many others, Publisher's
Weekly said of Leving's book, Fathers' Rights (Basic Books), "Any father
involved in a conflict over the custody of children will find a wealth of
practical information in this comprehensive guide."
SOURCE Jeffery M. Leving, Ltd.
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