Tennessee Bill Would Punish Publishers for “Obscene” Material

A Tennessee invoice that has handed the House and Senate would make it unlawful for publishers or distributers to “knowingly sell obscene material” to Tennessee faculties. It is at present awaiting Governor Bill Lee’s approval to turn into legislation. Under this invoice, violations could be thought of a Class E felony, and publishers or distributers may very well be fined between $10,000 and $100,000.

The invoice is sponsored by state Representative Susan Lynn, who beforehand argued that permitting The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky to stay out there to highschool college students — although it was lately moved to “mature” standing, requiring parental approval to take a look at — violated state obscenity legal guidelines.

Two different books had been challenged and eliminated on the identical time that The Perks of Being a Wallflower was moved to the “mature” studying checklist. Lynn argued, “Those books that are pornographic should never even reach the school review committee because they are already illegal [under state obscenity laws].”

Nashville First Amendment legal professional Ronald Harris responded, “I think it would be very difficult for a prosecutor to look at this and say this is obscene. I think it would be a very difficult case for them to make.”

During discussions of the brand new invoice, Representative Justin Jones mentioned, “I think that there are children that are watching this body and are saying ‘protect our lives, ban assault rifles’ and you are responding by banning books. We can do better than this.”