Slavery not Dead in Missouri
The 13th Amendment of the US Constitution says that involuntary servitude is abolished. The courts and the legislature of Missouri seem to be unaware of that fact in their denial of the victims of paternity fraud. Even if DNA testing proves that they are not the real dad they refuse to allow relief of the burdon of child support. The courts seem to be unaware, since the Thirteenth Amendment does not allow involuntary servitude. It does not say it’s allowable when an arbitrary time limit has run it’s course or even if some may think it’s in the best interest of society.
It’s never acceptable, but enforcing child support from a innocent victim who is not the bioligical father, and often has no relationship with the child, is what the State of Missouri is guilty of doing.
Forcing a man to pay child support for a child that is not his is involuntary servitude. The Supreme Court stated that “involuntary servitude necessarily means a condition of servitude in which the victim is forced to work for the defendant…by the use or threat of coercion through law or the legal process”.
By prosecuting, and sometime jailing, victims of child support fraud, the State of Missouri is imposing involuntary servitude on the victims themselves. Occasionally instigated by the State of Missouri itself as an enforcement action. The courts have the power to grant relief, but over and over again they stick to the Missouri Statues rather than ruling in favor of truth and justice. The Legislature of Missouri has neglected to revise it’s law/regulations to protect men (and their families) and relieve them of judgments that are based on fraud. The time is now to pass new laws allowing for the set aside child support judgements if they can prove via DNA Testing that they are not the father.
In the last two legislative sessions, bills that would grant relief to victims of child support fraud gathered dust in committees. Until enough Missouri citizens stand up and tell the legislature that is time to protect Missouri families by putting a stop to child support fraud they will continue to gather dust. The Missouri Legislature has no bills currently prefiled that address paternity fraud for the next legislative session. Get ahold of your State Legislators and demand that they do their job and fix this now. Until this injustice is addressed all men are at risk along with their families.