SIGN THIS PETITION TO GET A CONGRESSIONAL HEARING ON PORNOGRAPHY!
[box]March 1, 2012
The Honorable Fred Upton
Chairman Committee on Energy & Commerce Committee
2125 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Lamar Smith Chairman
Committee on the Judiciary
2138 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Chairman Upton and Smith:
We, the undersigned, strongly urge you to hold hearings on the harm from pornography and the need to vigorously enforce U. S. laws prohibiting distribution of obscene adult pornography. The U.S. Department of Justice has stopped all enforcement of these laws at a time when our nation is suffering an untreated pandemic of harm from pornography.
Last April, 117 Members of Congress, 75 from the House and 42 from the Senate, sent the attached letters to U. S. Attorney General Eric Holder calling to his attention the evidence that pornography is causing profound harms and urging him to vigorously enforce federal obscenity laws. Those 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.
In their letter to General Holder the Members noted that “illegal adult obscenity contributes to violence against women, addiction, harm to children, and sex trafficking. This material harms individuals, families, and communities and the problems are only getting worse.”
We also know that consumption of adult pornography leads many consumers to harder and more deviant material over time and even leads many to consume child pornography, contributing to the widespread and increasing problem of child pornography distribution in America. Children are also too often targeted by the pornography industry through free distribution of illegal hardcore Internet offerings, leading many child consumers into sexual exploitive behaviors and life-long accompanying problems.
We believe that the U. S. Congress needs to do more to explore the true harms of pornography and that a Congressional hearing in either or both the Committee on the Judiciary and Committee on Energy and Commerce, bringing together leading medical professionals and researchers on the subject of harm from pornography, is now vitally necessary.
The harms of pornography are devastating youth, families, marriages and country.
We respectfully request a hearing on the pandemic of harm from pornography.
Most Sincerely,
List of Signatures [/box]
