Family Policy Network of Ohio

A measure designed to fight pornography in Ohio could result in many adult-oriented businesses closing their doors — and that’s just fine with the family advocate who came up with the proposal. House Bill 23 — the Community Defense Act — will soon be voted on by the Ohio State Senate. The measure has already passed the House.

The bill would do two things to help eliminate the adverse effects of sexually oriented businesses in the Buckeye State. First, it would give townships the authority they need to regulate the businesses. And secondly, it would impose strict new statewide regulations. Phil Burress is president of Citizens for Community Values, which crafted the measure.

“We’re doing this because the law allows us to. These standards have been upheld by the courts,” Burress explains. “The Supreme Court said [in Renton v. Playtime Theaters Inc.] that each one of these communities has the right to zone, license, and regulate sexually oriented businesses because of the increased crime, decreased property values, and urban blight that they bring with them.”

According to Burress, owners of those businesses are testifying that the Community Defense Act, if it is made law, will shut down most of their operations. “That was not our intention,” Burress says, “but if that happens, that’s fine with us.” An almost identical measure passed the State House last year but died before going to the Senate. Burress says things are different now, and he expects it to pass.

By Rusty Pugh of AFR News