Letter Signed By More Than 5,000 Leaders And Community Activists Hand-Delivered To Congress Today
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Dawn Hawkins
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Washington, DC (April 4, 2012) – Morality In Media delivered a letter to key chairmen in Congress today, seeking a hearing on the pandemic of harm from pornography and the need to vigorously enforce federal obscenity laws. The letter, signed by a legion of national leaders and community activists representing millions of citizens at national, state, and local levels, was delivered to The Honorable Fred Upton (R-MI), Chairman, House Committee on Energy & Commerce, and The Honorable Lamar Smith (R-TN), Chairman House Committee on the Judiciary.
The letter will also be hand-delivered to every member of the House Judiciary and Energy and Commerce Committees.
The letter is the latest in a series of efforts in the War on Illegal Pornography, a national coalition comprised of more than 125 organizations fighting for the enforcement of current laws. The coalition was responsible for gathering the names on the letter, which is available at http://www.waronillegalpornography.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/WOIP_Congress_HearingRequest_LetterToEnergyandJudiciaryChairs_FINAL.pdf
The letter notes that 117 Members of Congress (75 House members and 42 from the Senate) have previously written U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder urging that he “vigorously enforce federal obscenity laws,” and calling his attention to the abundant evidence that pornography causes profound harms. Such harms include violence against women, harm to children, sex trafficking, divorce and widespread addiction.
“During the Obama Administration Attorney General Holder has refused to initiate new obscenity cases. We believe that a congressional hearing bringing national experts together to testify to the lasting harm of pornography is not only necessary, but urgent,” said Patrick A. Trueman, President of Morality in Media and spokesman for the group. “Our coalition members deal with the harms of this every day and are angry that the Justice Department refuses to enforce the laws. We can’t understand the Attorney General’s apparent unwillingness to enforce laws originally passed to protect women, children, families, and our communities.”
“Once the Congress has heard from experts about the significant negative consequences to children and adults,” Trueman continued, “it will be difficult for Attorney General Holder to continue to ignore his sworn duty to uphold federal law.”
Federal laws prohibit distribution of obscene (hardcore) pornography on the Internet, on cable/satellite TV, on hotel/motel TV, in retail shops, through the mail, and by common carrier.
About Morality in Media
Founded in 1962, Morality in Media, Inc. is the leading organization focused on opposing pornography and indecency through public education and the application of the law. MIM is leading The War on Illegal Pornography, a coalition of more than 125 groups whose goal is to stop the distribution of illegal pornography. For more information visit http://www.pornharms.com/.