"Show Me" the First Amendment
I’ve been trying to assess the ramifications of the recently passed Missouri bill SB 32, as far as porn is concerned. From all that I’ve read and discerned, the new law makes it illegal to produce pornographic videos, DVDs, and magazines in the state. Likewise, the showing of such sexual content contained therein in a public forum (such as an adult theater) is similarly prohibited. However, private consumption of pornographic material is not forbidden. I also believe it is not illegal to sell such material.
As was the case with the ban on the sale of sex toys in Alabama, Texas, and Georgia, I’m not surprised that this ordinance was proposed. I am fazed by the fact that this bill was not only passed, but that it was upheld. I find it hard to believe that this bill was reprised in the Missouri state Senate, taking into account the whole “free speech” thing.
There are some aspects of lewdness, indecency, and sexual conduct that are contained in the pending state law that I don’t want to delve that deeply into. Suffice it to say that prostitution and all manner of public sexual activity are hereby banned. That I can understand.
What I fail to see is why the compilation of such activity - if it was filmed and imported from another state - in DVD, VHS, or paper format would henceforth be deemed illegal. Is such composition banned, only if you were trying to make a profit? If I wanted to put together a montage of my favorite sex scenes on one video and screen it for my friends (assuming that I lived in Missouri), would I be arrested? Say I happened to get my hands on “boot-legged” (and that’s what it would come down to) Missouri-made, XXX material; would I be breaking the law?
Another scenario: suppose I, as a resident of another state, bought a Missouri-made pornographic product. Would I be guilty? What if I merely viewed a film from Missouri - and it could be proven that I had prior knowledge of the movie’s state of origin - in an adult theater (granted that my state allows such public consumption)? Or would these films be akin to marijuana in that “usage” would be permitted but possession would be illegal? I know these are a lot of questions. But that’s the can of worms you would open up if a bill like this was passed.
As was the case with the ban on the sale of sex toys in Alabama, Texas, and Georgia, I’m not surprised that this ordinance was proposed. I am fazed by the fact that this bill was not only passed, but that it was upheld. I find it hard to believe that this bill was reprised in the Missouri state Senate, taking into account the whole “free speech” thing.
There are some aspects of lewdness, indecency, and sexual conduct that are contained in the pending state law that I don’t want to delve that deeply into. Suffice it to say that prostitution and all manner of public sexual activity are hereby banned. That I can understand.
What I fail to see is why the compilation of such activity - if it was filmed and imported from another state - in DVD, VHS, or paper format would henceforth be deemed illegal. Is such composition banned, only if you were trying to make a profit? If I wanted to put together a montage of my favorite sex scenes on one video and screen it for my friends (assuming that I lived in Missouri), would I be arrested? Say I happened to get my hands on “boot-legged” (and that’s what it would come down to) Missouri-made, XXX material; would I be breaking the law?
Another scenario: suppose I, as a resident of another state, bought a Missouri-made pornographic product. Would I be guilty? What if I merely viewed a film from Missouri - and it could be proven that I had prior knowledge of the movie’s state of origin - in an adult theater (granted that my state allows such public consumption)? Or would these films be akin to marijuana in that “usage” would be permitted but possession would be illegal? I know these are a lot of questions. But that’s the can of worms you would open up if a bill like this was passed.
posted by Don_One at 3:08 PM
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