Legislator seeks rapist parental rights law

New Mexico legislators are proposing to stop rapists from seeking custody or visitation rights for children conceived during a sexual assault.

 Rep. Conrad James, an Albuquerque Republican, said he's unaware of any pending New Mexico case in which a rapist is seeking parental rights but wants to stop that from happening as it has in other states. 

He said most states don't have laws that terminate parental rights for rapists.

 The lawmakers said in a statement that current New Mexico law allows a rapist to ask a court for custody of the rape victim's child or seek visitation rights.

Legislator seeks rapist parental rights law