Alabama Residents Try To Get Ban On Sex Toys Lifted

A Birmingham legislator has filed a bill that would revoke the state's 10-year ban on the sale of sex toys, a prohibition that has drawn national attention and led to lengthy court battles.

It's the second attempt by state Rep. John Rogers to strike the 1998 prohibition on the sale of sex toys: "A shower head could be considered a sex toy," he said. "It's just bringing the state into the 20th century."

But Dan Ireland, executive director of the Alabama Citizens' Action Program, a Baptist group, says he has other ideas: "Laws are made to protect the public. Sometimes you have to protect the public against themselves."

Ireland says the ban is a "good law" that has bolstered public safety.

"Sexual matters are not to become a nuisance to people and the community," he said. "We have enough problems with sexual-oriented crimes without enticing or promoting it."

The law prohibits the sale and manufacture of items "designed or marketed as useful primarily for the stimulation of human genital organs."

A series of lawsuits were filed against the state by store owners and women who said the law violated privacy rights.

Loretta Nall recently began a "Sex Toys for Troy King" drive in protest of the law, which she called a waste of time and an invasion of privacy.

State Rep. John Rogers said that he believes the ban is unconstitutional and embarrassing to the state and he is optimistic about getting the repeal passed: "I intend to pass this bill this year. I want it to be one of the first bills on the calendar."

 � Copyright 2004-2015 The News Vault. All rights reserved.