Hard Focus
Page 18
It all began with a “what-if…”
Unfortunately, for too many victims of sexual assault, it's not a what-if. It's a what now?
Most of the laws are about custody, period, and do not take into consideration how the child was conceived. In the era when most of the laws were written, men were the ones penning the words, and in their minds, a woman would never want to keep a child conceived in such a violent attack. Or, in some cases, they believed rape wasn't really a thing.
A 1996 study by the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, found that approximately 32,000 pregnancies result from rape every year. They stated that “rape-related pregnancy occurs with significant frequency.” Roughly 5 percent of rape victims between the ages of 12 and 45 become pregnant. We know from other studies that rape is woefully underreported, which means the real numbers are significantly higher.
As recently as 2012, we saw a prominent U.S. political figure saying he believed a woman’s body would reject a pregnancy resulting from rape, and by his words, we know there is a long road still ahead of us.
It took ten years, but Maryland changed their laws in February of 2018. In 2017 a version of that very changed law was refused by an all-male committee, and proponents of the change said it was the outcry from that debacle that helped fuel the fight through to success. Finally.
Too many of these unjust laws remain and are enforceable, impacting rape victims every year.
This has to change.
In some states, actions to sever the "father's" rights are permitted on a short timeline and only if the rapist is convicted, which puts even more pressure on the victim. Imagine all the what-ifs that have to run through their head. If the rapist strikes a plea deal and is convicted of a lesser crime, then all bets are off, and it can be a long and costly effort to terminate custody rights.
In some US states, if the identity of the man is known, termination of the pregnancy is only allowed if the woman's rapist agrees.
In some states, where delayed identification happens, a child adopted out can be ripped from those adoptive parents and the rapist given sole custody. In that case, the victim can be required to pay child support for a child conceived from a sexual assault, given up for adoption, and then forced back into the woman's life.
In some states, if the rapist's identity is unknown, access to state or federal aid intended for victims of violent crimes is only available if the woman agrees to a paternity test to check against the state’s criminal database.
These laws will only change if they are brought to light and aired in the public’s view. I plead with you to check what your state or country allows, and then contact your legal representatives and tell them what needs to be changed.
Be the change.
Woofully yours,
~ML
Resources:
Hard Focus group on Facebook - www.facebook.com/groups/hardfocus/
Join in on the conversation about the book and the topics raised in the story.
RAINN – www.rainn.org
Review information in the public policy and action section to see what laws apply to your state. You can drill down into various information to see exactly what the laws are. https://www.rainn.org/public-policy-action
RAINN also has a national sexual assault hotline available 24/7. Dial 800.656.HOPE, or you can go online to anonymously chat with someone trained to listen and help. If you’re dealing with the aftermath of an assault, there is help, and hope.
National Conference of State Legislators – www.ncsl.org
Do a search on their website for “parental rights and sexual assault” and navigate to the search. Look for your state and see what laws exist now. Search for “child support and family law database” and select “Family Violence Collaboration” then click Search. This gives you a blow-by-blow recitation of all bills passed, pending, and failed from 2012 to current day.
Federal government information – www.govtrack.us
Not getting answers you want at the state level? Remember, you're also represented in federal government. If enough pressure is brought to bear, things will change.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Raised in the south, MariaLisa learned about the magic of books at an early age. Every summer, she would spend hours in the local library, devouring books of every genre. Self-described as a book-a-holic, she says "I've always loved to read, but then I discovered writing, and found I adored that, too. For reading...if nothing else is available, I've been known to read the back of the cereal box."
Also by MariaLisa deMora
Alace Sweets
A dark thriller, this book is not a light read. Filled with edge-of-your-seat suspense, this intense story commands the reader's attention as it drives towards the explosive ending. Alace Sweets is a vigilante serial killer, with everything that implies and is sure to trip all your triggers. Be ready.
At seventeen, Alace Sweets turned a corner in her life, taking the wrong shortcut home from school.
Resisting the harsh knowledge her attackers will never be made to pay for their actions, Alace takes a stand. Justice must be served, and if fate’s scales are out of balance, she’s determined to set things right as best she can.
When the laws of men fail, the rules of Alace prevail.
5-Star Reviews for Alace Sweets
“deMora has a superb story-line and exceptional character development. All of her characters have such depth that will intrigue the reader...”
~Turning Another Page
“Hot, sweet, dark thriller.”
~Beth D
“It will keep you on the edge of your seat and give you chills.”
~Escape Reality Book Blog
“Disturbing, haunting, sickly; yet hot, sexy and heart racing!”
~Amanda L
“From the first page [deMora] pulls you into the world she has created and you do not even try to escape...”
~Little Shop of Readers Blog
“A must read for all those dark, gritty romance fans out there.”
~Sweet & Spicy Reads
“You will find yourself so drawn into the story that the outside world is blocked out and your locking the doors and turning on all the lights.”
~Danena F
“Don't judge me for bonding with a vigilante serial killer, she's more than what she does.”
~iScream Books
“Thrilling...chilling...full of suspense, nail biting edge of your seat excitement.”
~Tracey H
“Every time MariaLisa deMora picks up her pen (or opens her computer), she creates characters you want to believe in.”
~Gail S
“Intriguing dark storyline, beautiful love story and nail-biting conclusion, what more could a reader ask for?”
~Manda M
“This book takes you a dark and twisted ride that is gripping...”
~Renee Entress' Blog
“This book is dark and gritty and I literally had to take a day off from reading it because it's that intense.”
~My Girlfriend's Couch
“This is my favourite book so far from this author ... I recommend this book if you enjoy dark romantic thrillers.”
~Cheekypee Reads and Reviews
“There's not enough stars to give this book and 5 just doesn't really do it justice!”
~DeLane C
“I couldn't put this book down from page one! Tried to stop & go to bed but couldn't sleep thinking about Alace and got up & finished the book.”
~Debbie M
“MariaLisa DeMora, wordsmith that she is, made this a story of the enlightenment of a woman and finding love in a life where she has had none.”
~Kat W
“Whatever deep dark trench [deMora] pulled a character like Alace from should be revisited again and often.”
~Confessions of a Serial Reader
ADDITIONAL SERIES AND BOOKS
Please note that books in a series frequently feature characters from additio
nal books within that series. If series books are read out of order, readers will twig to spoilers for the other books, so going back to read the skipped titles won’t have the same angsty reveals.
It is strongly recommended they be read in order.
Rebel Wayfarers MC series:
Mica, #1
A Sweet & Merry Christmas, short story #1.5
Slate, #2
Bear, #3
Jase, #4
Gunny, #5
Mason, #6
Hoss, #7
Harddrive Holidays, short story #7.5
Duck, #8
Biker Chick Campout, short story #8.5
Watcher, #9
A Kiss to Keep You, novella #9.25
Gun Totin’ Annie, short story #9.5
Secret Santa, short story #9.75
Bones, #10
Gunny’s Pups, novella #10.25
Never Settle, short story #10.5
Not Even A Mouse, short story #10.75
Fury, #11
Gypsy’s Lady, #11.5
Cassie, #12
Road Runner’s Ride, novella #12.5
Occupy Yourself band series:
Born Into Trouble, #1
Grace In Motion, #2 (2018)
What They Say, #3 (2018)
Neither This, Nor That series:
This Is the Route Of Twisted Pain, #1
Treading the Traitor’s Path: Out Bad, #2
Trapped by Fate on Reckless Roads, #3 (2018)
Other Books:
With My Whole Heart
Alace Sweets
Hard Focus
More information available at mldemora.com.