Tony Perkins, Washington Update: A federal appeals court in Cleveland has struck down a 1988 federal child pornography recordkeeping law. The law requires porn producers to keep records with the proof of age of all people depicted in "actual sexually explicit conduct" to ensure that children are not being used. The problem Congress sought to address was not theoretical. The law was passed in the wake of findings by Attorney General Meese's Commission on Pornography that the porn industry was in fact using girls under the age of 18 in hardcore films, and this commonsense law was another way to help keep children away from this vicious industry. Yet the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals said the law was unconstitutional because it requires all producers to keep records, not just commercial producers. According to the Court, the recordkeeping requirements are too burdensome for non-commercial porn producers and violate their First Amendment rights. But doesn't this miss the point? Children are just as harmed by the sick people who produce child porn for the "fun" of it as the sick people who are in it for the money. Why should anyone who produces sexually explicit pornography be excused from proving that they're not exploiting children? The law was previously upheld by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia in 1994. The Department of Justice has not yet announced its next steps, but the 6th Circuit result must not stand. See also: Child porn law struck down Tags: 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, FRC, pornography, protecting children, Tony Perkins To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
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