Regarding "Dad fights for rights of fathers" (Republic, June 17):

I was saddened to read Alia Beard Rau's article about the plight of divorced fathers.

I was on the forefront of this in Arizona in the 1980s. In 1980, fathers were lucky to get any visitation. About 95 percent of custody cases went to moms, and 85 percent of contested custody cases went to moms also.

As a member of the now-defunct Association for Fathers & Children Together, we got a law passed in 1981 making it state policy that fathers have strong visitation rights. In 1982, we nearly passed a presumptive joint-custody law, but the House speaker at the time wouldn't let it be heard.

I've not been involved with that issue for more than 20 years, but was told things had changed, that joint custody was routinely awarded in most cases. Guess I was mistaken, and we're back to square one.

I was also surprised to see so many women's groups still opposing shared time and custody. Looks like old stereotypes in such a conservative state die hard. Let's hope this one -- mom's should always get custody; dad gets a little visitation -- dies soon.

Hang in there, dads of the current generation. There's still hope for the future.

-- Rick Tannehill, Glendale