Lawmakers in Utah are taking a symbolic stand against pornography by pointing out its dangers.
Utah Gov. Gary R. Herbert signed two new pieces of legislation aimed at the porn industry.
The first labels porn “a public health hazard leading to a broad spectrum of individual and public health impacts and societal harms,” adding that it “equates violence toward women and children with sex and pain with pleasure, which increases the demand for sex trafficking, prostitution, child sexual abuse images, and child pornography.”
However, despite the strong language, the new resolution doesn’t have any enforcement or banning mechanisms, and is meant as a public awareness message. Still supporters are declaring the bill a symbolic victory.
Pamela Atkinson, the chair of the Utah Coalition Against Pornography board said, “The resolution makes way for a multifaceted approach to solving this crisis. “She said the state is worried about 82 percent of sex offenders who started off by viewing pornography.
The second piece of legislation is specifically aimed at people who view and own child pornography. It says that technicians must report to law enforcement any time they find child porn on the job, and that Internet service providers will not be criminally liable if proper reports are made to police.