News Release
For Immediate Release:  September 28, 2011
Contact:  Diane Gramley  1.814.271.9078 or 1.814.437.5355

Coalition Asks Whether the Next President will Enforce the Federal Obscenity Laws

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Coalition for the War on Illegal Pornography, of which the American Family Association of Pennsylvania (AFA of PA) is a member, launched a new campaign today asking all presidential candidates to state their position on the enforcement of federal laws prohibiting the distribution of illegal, hard-core, obscene pornography.

“This current administration has turned a blind eye to the harm of pornography.  The Obama Administration has not initiated one federal obscenity prosecution since Inauguration Day 2009.   President Bush was not strong on this issue, but at least there were obscenity prosecutions such as the Extreme Associates case in Pittsburgh.  So where do the current presidential candidates stand?” questioned Diane Gramley, President of the AFA of PA.

According to peer-reviewed research gathered at www.pornharms.com, harm from adult pornography is at pandemic levels. Exposure to pornography is leading to addiction among many children and adults and is a significant cause of broken marriages and the sexual exploitation of children and women.   According to new studies, pornography increases the demand for sexual trafficking and child exploitation; this explains the unprecedented increase in child pornography.

Current federal laws, upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court, prohibit distribution of hard-core obscene pornography on the Internet, on cable/satellite TV, on hotel/motel TV, in retail shops, through the mail, and by common carrier. But, the laws are simply not being enforced.  The country needs strong presidential leadership on this issue.

“Almost on a daily basis we read stories of the sexual assault of women, children and sometimes even infants.   Recent studies connect the dots between the use of adult pornography, sexual exploitation, addiction, and sex trafficking.  Who among the candidates care enough to put a stop to this?  We want guarantees that the next President will agree to make the prosecution of illegal hardcore pornography a priority of the U.S. Department of Justice.  Americans will then see a drastic decline in the harms generated by the use of illegal obscenity.  It is much more important to go after pornographers than guitar manufactureres” noted Gramley.

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