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H.R. 6048, To amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to provide for the protection of child custody arrangements for parents who are members of the Armed Forces deployed in support of a contingency operation
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Visitor Comments
Spc Jodie Gollihugh
Please pass this bill.. My kids were taken away from me before my last deploymen and now because the impending deployemnt made my home too unstable. they would rather place my kids with their father who abused me for 8 years. I'm a good mom who has gotten to see her children less than 9 months in 3 years. Please pass this so they can have their mom as a part of their life too.
Joe Valentin
I believe this is a well worth bill. Allowing the military member to serve his/her nation in the call of duty and know that their children will not be taken away from them upon their return will relieve stress while deployed. Military members should not be faulted for deployments.
kathy suzzi
this is a law that is the only thing to stop the outragous actions against out troops. My grandson was just given to his mother when my son deployed to Iraq in april the mother had seen my 4 year old grandson 3 times in 2 1/2 years and the judge sent him from ri to wa where he knew nothing and did not know anyone.
this happening to many of our troops when they get deployed and it is not right. why are they being punished for protecting their country.
Tim Higgins
Please pass this Bill as quickly as possible. Custody of our son's 5 -1/2 year-old child is at stake. The Family Court has ruled that the child's mother (our son's former girlfriend) has SERIOUS mental and personality disorders. It is the time overseas during two tours in Iraq that is preventing our son from having custody. This child deserves to be raised in a stable and loving home that our son and his darling (and sane) wife provide to him.
PLEASE HURRY!!!
Tim Higgins
Pat Higgins, Sr.
Please pass this bill!
My nephew is currently losing his rights because he was deployed to Iraq to ensure the rest of us stateside get to continue on with our freedoms and rights. It is imperative that we protect those who protect us!
Kevin Higgins
My Nephew is currently being hurt by the courts using his time away after he was called up for 2 tours in Iraq as a determining factor in child custody. He can give his sone a better home and a stable life where he can grow, have friends and live a normal life as compared to that with his mother. One of the main deciding things the judge has used is time away from home deployed. Please pass this soon and make this type of prejudice to our armed forces illegal.
Katherine Buck
Please pass this bill as soon as possible. I know a wonderful family that may lose their son and grandson to an unstable mother because of his deployment to Iraq. What kind of country are we living in that puts the safety of small children at risk because their mother or father (was or is) serving and protecting our country? These courageous men and women deserve to have the same protection from the court systems as the parent who is seeking sole custody because they spent more time with the child. This is ludicrous and the court sytems knows this and should be held accountable. Will it take the death of an innocent child placed with an unstable parent for the government to wake up and smell the coffee??? We need to speak up for the innocent children that are not able to speak for themselves.
Claudia Kroeck
Please pass this bill as soon as possible. It is terribly unfair to count any servicepersons' overseas deployment time against them in a child custody determination. These people have given our country too much to be treated this way by our court system. PASS THE BILL NOW!
Jerry Osmonson
I am appalled to learn that the law treats the very people that defend our country and our rights in such a subjectively prejudicial manner. It is unjust, shocking and morally unacceptable to penalize service men and women by denying parental rights that would otherwise not be in jeopardy! Please pass this bill without delay.
Bonnie Russell
www.FamilyLawCourts.com/kids.html
Or check portions of this article:
Oklahoma Judge gives Tinker mom a chance.
March 27, 2008
"From the bottom of my heart ... I tell you I'm sorry,” Oklahoma County District Judge Don Deason said to Michelle Thorson.
The ruling means she now is the widow, not the ex-wife, of Tech Sgt. Dustin Thorson, who fatally shot their son and daughter before killing himself.
On Feb. 25, the airman shot the boy, Dylan, 4, and girl, Jourdain, 9, in an upstairs bedroom inside their base home after a scuffle with their mother, officials said.
Dustin Thorson, 35, a decorated technical sergeant who served in Iraq, then shot himself. Michelle Thorson was fleeing for help when she heard the shots that killed Dylan and Jourdain.
The airman had threatened last year to kill the children after a divorce, once saying to his son, "Tell Mommy you love her and don't want Daddy to hurt you,” according to court papers.
They need counseling after returning.
Bonnie Russell
What's notable is that Congress passed this as an EXCEPTION to the best interests of the child. Why is Congress playing popular politics instead of not holding the needs of our most vulernable to the highest standard? Returning Vets, especially Vets who have served more than one term, need counseling. Children do not need to be exposed to vets with PTSD but no treatment. That's beyond irresponsible. It's deadly. See www.FamilyLawCourts.com/domestic.html
Andrew Smith
I agree that some do need counseling after returning, but what about the servicemembers that have no choice but to deploy? They have an obligation as a parent and to their careers. Why should they have to risk losing the very thing they are sworn to protect-their family because they have to go and serve. I have had my child for 6 years in a loving, consistant enviroment. Now I risk losing him because of a deployment. We have enought to worry about by leaving our families for a year. We shouldn't have to worry about losing them.
Glen Smalley
I am currently on deployment and in the near future it looks like I will be going through a trial that I will most likely lose due to being overseas. Needless to say I plan to fight it the best I can but it doesn't look good. My ex wife voluntarily gave me custody of my two sons and now since I had to leave it is being used against me. I have already seen two dedicated fathers who are with me lose custody of their children. Please pass this bill. Yes I do agree that there are some circumstances where a child should not go back to a parent. But there are many single parents who are just doing their jobs who are losing their children because we answer our nations call. It is time to protect our vets.