September 15, 2005 | Sex & Society

New anti-porn law passes House

A new bill that would cripple the adult entertainment industry passed the U.S.  House of Representative this week. The bill would force all distributors of adult films, including retail stores, to keep 2257 proof of age documents on file and would extend those record keeping requirements to all instances of simulated sex acts - even in mainstream films.

The law would also criminalize the mere “production” of adult obscenity; current law requires that adult materials be distributed across state lines before federal obscenity laws can be applied. 

The bill was introduced on Monday by Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.), a faithful servant of the religious right. Entitled The Child Pornography Protection Act of 2005, the bill pretends to be fighting child pornography, when in reality it has the mainstream porn industry squarely in its cross-hairs.

On Wednesday the bill was attached as a rider to another bill, The Child Safety Act of 2005 - with no debate. It was passed by the full House the same afternoon, with a vote of 371-52, and now moves to the Senate Judiciary Committee for consideration.

If the bill does become law, the porn industry will immediately attempt to have it struck down.  Because the provisions are so broad, the mainstream movie industry will likely lobby against the law as well.

• New federal law proposes to end adult video productions [AVN Online]
• FSC weighs in on proposed anti-adult bill [AVN]
• New legislation would expand 2257 and obscenity laws [YNOT Masters]
• Attorney Jeffrey Douglas answers questions about Pence Amendment's 2257 and obscenity expansion [YNOT Masters]