Time to Enforce U.S. Obscenity Laws

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Show Information

Date: February 16, 2011

Host: Jim Schneider

Guest: Robert Peters

Listen: RealAudio | Windows Media | MP3

Jim opened this edition of Crosstalk with word from Concerned Women of America, an organization that is urging listeners to contact their congressmen and ask them to vote in favor of the Pence Amendment to defund Planned Parenthood. To contact your congressmen call 202-225-3121.

Robert Peters is the President of Morality in Media.

According to Robert, the large majority of adult Americans still understand that pornography is not good for American society and they would support intelligent steps to do something about it, including enforcing adult obscenity laws.

In spite of the fact that obscenity/pornography cannot be distributed on the Internet, through the Post Office, retail outlets or through satellite or cable TV, no new indictments have been made in the last two years. So why isn’t the Justice Department vigorously enforcing obscenity laws?

Robert believes part of the problem lies with the Supreme Court which redefined the legal definition of obscenity back in the 1960’s, a definition that couldn’t be used in court. This opened the door to pornography.

In the early 70’s the court corrected its mistake but things became complicated because the test for obscenity involves the consideration of community standards. This and other factors have created a situation where Robert believes most prosecutors don’t want to commit to enforcing our nation’s obscenity laws.

Robert urged listeners to contact their senators and U.S. representatives that are supportive of the issue of prosecuting pornography and to have them sign on to two letters. The first is a letter to the Senate drafted by Orrin Hatch of Utah and the other is a letter to the House that’s been drafted by representatives Mike McIntyre of North Carolina and Randy Forbes of Virginia.

More Information

http://www.moralityinmedia.org

Action Points

To contact your U.S. Senators and U.S. Representatives that are supportive of the issue of prosecuting pornography and to have them sign on to two letters. The first is a letter to the Senate drafted by Orrin Hatch of Utah and the other is a letter to the House that’s been drafted by representatives Mike McIntyre of North Carolina and Randy Forbes of Virginia. Contact can be made via the House and Senate switchboard numbers listed below.

202-225-3121—House Switchboard
202-224-3121—Senate Switchboard

Department of Justice Phone Numbers:
202-514-2001—Eric Holder’s Office
202-353-1555—Public Comment Line
202-514-2601-Criminal Division
202-514-5780—Chief of the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section

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