The buzz from Alabama
 

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Sex toys are still against the law in Alabama, at least as far as the Alabama Legislature is concerned.

The Alabama House voted against a bill Tuesday that would have removed a ban on sexual devices, such as vibrators, from the state's obscenity law. The ban on sexual devices was added at the last minute when the obscenity law passed the Legislature in 1998.


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Any thoughts? Other than removing Mobile from your travel itinerary???
:)

I think the less vibrators in use increases the demand for penis, particularly, mine.

It's yet another ridiculous case of legislating morality based on archaic religious beliefs.

what about that software that turns your nokia into a vibrator? is it illegal for them to let someone residing in alabama to download it?

anyone have the link? i can't seem to find it.

Sex-Negative News: Alabama Votes Against Legalizing Sex Toys
 

The problem is that politicians get elected to do stuff like this.
They wouldn't do it if there wasn't a lot of sex-negative people in the world who think these laws are needed.
What's the story?

Why are so many of us so sex-negative?
And why is it a political thing?

We need a constitutional ammendment to ensure our right to adult novelties. No one who thinks this is a good law is intelectually qualified to hold elected office in our country.

it's sad but at least cuecumbers are still legal!

Thank christ i don't live in Alabama.

So let me get this straight.......

Buying a 20 dollar vibrator that will give a woman an orgasm (presumably a natural function) is obscene, but the selling of hand guns for the taking of human life is perfectly ok.

WTF is wrong with this picture.

oh now don't you even go bringing guns into this. even in the south most would agree dildos and handguns don't mix!

Hmm a ban on sex toys, In America, isn't everyone seeing it on sex anyways, how can they possibly back up a claim on "sex related products" when thats most of what you see on television?

well now their fellow brothers and sisters must be sex toy enough for them....

its pretty lame ... americans are so sexually closed minded...

EDIT: i miss read it and posted thinking it was arkansas...

Just another example of beaurocracy gone batty.
They should go get a real job if they can't handle
the 21st century.

I thought about making a snide comment that would have probably pissed off anyone from Alabama. I decided that a more responsible statement was needed.

Basically, this is another example of a narrow-minded legislature deciding that we need to be protected from ourselves. Even in states where sex toys are legal (most of them, I bet), people don't go around showing off their toys to strangers or young children. So, how are these toys obscene by themselves?

*G_Whiz slowly shakes his head in disbelief*

You say that like it makes a difference. Mobile... some place in arkansas... same thing. I think its stupid but thats the bible belt for you. It sucks let me tell you. Thats the same reason why we can't get porn here in oklahoma. (not the real kind atleast) Thank god for the internet. And why can't we all just go "Okay,lets just make a sweeping law for EVERYTHING. As long as it dosn't hurt anyone else and everyone involved is consenting (and of a consenting age...) then whatever people do IN THEIR OWN HOMES is legal."


EDIT: Small rant I want to add. And its not like banning their sale (or even making it a fineable offense to own one) is going to keep them out. Its just going to make everyone go across state borders for them like we do for the lottery.

Re: Sex-Negative News: Alabama Votes Against Legalizing Sex Toys
 

Because parents teach their kids that sex is a bad thing. I have no fucking clue why it's a political thing. It isn't a political thing to me unless we have a president that fucks interns and lies about it. Thankfully he's gone, but for the average Joe as long as someone isn't being raped or a kid isn't being abused there should not be a problem with sex toys. What the fuck is wrong with two adults that want to spice up their sex lives? Not a fucking thing. People need to grow up and realize that just because it's something they wouldn't do that doesn't always mean that it should be illegal. The people who voted for this should all have a giant 15 inch dildo shoved in their tight asses cause they need to loosen up.

Re: Re: Sex-Negative News: Alabama Votes Against Legalizing Sex Toys
 

That brings up a question, what IS their legal basis for this anyway?

Re: Sex-Negative News: Alabama Votes Against Legalizing Sex Toys
 

six, it goes much further than just parents. like i've said before, the norms of society most often are set by religious standards. regardless of whether one beleives or not, if the majority does, then their beleif system will most likely be the social norm, and therefore be the popular idea.

now with that in mind...

politicians have lots of different ways of getting elected. it has alot to do with where you're from. when you're from alabama, many of the voting public appreciate a "godfearing man" who will represent them and their beleifs when enacting laws. we're talking about the bible belt, folks. we're talking about a state that to this day is still very unfriendly to minorties regardless of how long it's been outlawed to do so... and when those people spoke out and said they want this "godfearing man" to represent them, they placed a responsibility on this man to keep them happy and represent their wishes... if he dosen't he's out of a job.

so where does that leave us?

a state whose public is very religiously driven will of course oppose any kind of "deviancy" regardless of how modern other states have become. in a typical southerner's mind, there is no desire to grow and become a thriving modern metropolis... and they sure as shit don't want all of the "Sin and Debaucthury" that goes with it.

we're talking about alabama, folks. this should come as no big suprise. an amusement to those of us who consider ourselves more "modern" than those "good ol' boys", but not a suprise.

beat me to the punch Phred.

Ala. Code. § 13A-12-200.2
A little more info... up to $10,000 and up to one year in prison on first offense of "distribution or possesion with intent to distribute". Ouch.

As for why America is so negative towards sexuality, it is because we our countries foundation is a Puritan one. In my opinion we need to break away from it, but it's going to be tough because of how ingrained it is in our society.

The politition who wrote this law must of been really intimidated by his wife's viberator.
either it was much larger then he was, or she tried it out on him

possession with intent to distribute? what are these drugs?

i also hate the majority of attitudes toward sex in this country. we show lots of violence and degredation of women on tv, but we can't show a pair of breasts on tv unless it's late at night on a movie channel.

i've seen figures showing that we have more abortions and teenage births in this country than european countries. we aren't having more sex as teens, it's roughly the same. we are using less condoms, i have a feeling if there were healthier attitudes and kids weren't afraid of going to their neighborhood store and picking up a box things would change.

"Material not otherwise obscene may be obscene under this section if the distribution of the material, the offer to do so, or the possession with the intent to do so is a commercial exploitation of erotica solely for the sake of prurient appeal. "

That depends on how the cukes are packaged.

Puts a whole new thought to remember to eat your veggies

This kind of 'legislated morality' could not have happened without the influence of religion. So sad. So stupid.

A strange thought just occured to me....

Oh how i wish we could move Toronto's Gay Pride Day Parade to Mobile Alabama.

http://cabbagetowntoronto.com/gaypride/28.shtml

http://cabbagetowntoronto.com/gaypride/20.shtml

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