Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, is proposing a law called the Supporting Healthy Pregnancy Act. While that sounds wonderful, there is a problem. Paying child support is one thing. After paternity is established, the father must pay that. Not only is it the law, but it is the right thing to do. But that’s only when a man has been proven to be the father.
If Stinson gets her way, the father would be required to pay support for a baby that isn’t even born yet. This too sounds like a good thing because it would help the mother with legitimate pregnancy expenses. But what if Stinson’s law comes to pass? The woman could point out any man and claim that he’s the father. Since the baby has yet to be born, that man could be forced to financially support a baby that isn’t his.
Since it’s impossible to establish paternity before a child’s birth, that man would become victim to a dishonest woman. He would be forced to pay without proof. Hinson did not think this through, or maybe she doesn’t care about the fact that innocent men could be targeted by vindictive, lying women.
In order for this to happen, a mother would have to file a formal request. But the problem remains. All she has to do is point out any guy and claim that he got her pregnant. Then, over the course of nine months, he would be forced to pay half of the pregnancy costs without any form of defense against potentially fraudulent claims.
This law, if it becomes one, will turn men into sitting ducks. I’m sure that Hinson knows this but she simply doesn’t care. As long as some guy pays, she doesn’t seem to care about proof. If it turns out, after the birth, that the man wasn’t the father after all, he will never see a refund. Again, Hinson doesn’t care. With women like her around, men are in grave danger.
Hopefully, this law goes nowhere because innocent men will be victimized.