Military Honor and Decency Act (H.R. 5821)

May 22, 2008

Months ago I shared concerning reports regarding the subject of pornography on military bases.

Quoting from Pat Trueman, former head of the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Enforcement Section, from September 14, 2007

“Army and Air Force Exchange Service is defending its policy to sell sexually explicit magazines like Playboy, Penthouse, Nude Playmates, and a host of others, despite the federal Military Honor and Decency Act, (10 U.S.C. § 2489) which prohibits the sale of sexually explicit publications in military exchanges. They seem more concerned with the number of complaints received rather than the law. Military families are encouraged to file complaints. Here is a link: http://odin.aafes.com/feedback/default.asp
Pat Trueman

http://www.navytimes.com/benefits/stores/military_magazines_070911w/

Since that time U.S. Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA) has introduced a bill
to address this concern [The Military Honor and Decency Act - H.R. 5821]
http://broun.house.gov/apps/list/press/ga10_broun/AntiPornography.shtml

Broun’s legislation, the “Military Honor and Decency Act,” closes a loophole in current law that is allowing the sale of sexually explicit material on American military installations located both within the United States and around the world. Although the “National Defense Authorization Act of 1997” expressly prevents the Secretary of Defense from permitting the sale or rental of sexually explicit material on property under the jurisdiction of the Department of Defense (DoD), subsequent regulations adopted by the Department of Defense have continued to allow the sale of sexually explicit material to occur. Congressman Broun’s legislation closes these existing loopholes in DoD regulations to bring the Department into compliance with the intent of the 1997 law so that taxpayers will not be footing the costs of distributing pornography.

I had the opportunity to meet with Congressman Broun and his staff while at the capitol on Monday. In part, I heard Paul Broun share these concerns:

“As a Marine, I am deeply concerned for the welfare of our troops and their mission,” said Broun. “Allowing the sale of pornography on military bases has harmed military men and women by: escalating the number of violent, sexual crimes; feeding a base addiction; eroding the family as the primary building block of society; and denigrating the moral standing of our troops both here and abroad. Our troops should not see their honor sullied so that the moguls behind magazines like Playboy and Penthouse can profit. The ‘Military Honor and Decency Act’ will right a bureaucratic–and moral–wrong.”

At this writing, there are only 17 co-sponsors.

Rep. Paul Broun, Georgia
Rep. Todd Akin, Missouri
Rep. Steve Chabot, Ohio
Rep. Randy Forbes, Virginia
Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, Nebraska
Rep. Virgil Goode, Virginia
Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, Colorado
Rep. Joe Pitts, Pennsylvania
Rep. William Sali, Idaho
Rep. Mark Souder, Indiana
Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, Maryland
Rep. Peter Roskam, Illinois
Rep. Steve King, Iowa
Rep. Rob Bishop, Utah
Rep. Mike Pence, Indiana
Rep. Chris Smith, New Jersey
Rep. Robert Wittman, Virginia
Rep. Christopher Shays, Connecticut

There should be at least 150. I will be placing a couple of calls to
U.S. Reps that I know urging them to sign on as co-sponsors. I hope you will do the same.

We’ll be keeping you up-to-date on this in the days ahead.

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Thank you for helping us stay in the battle for Truth and decency.

http://www.americandecency.org/folder.php?f=donate

Bill Johnson, president
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American Decency Association
Bill Johnson, President
P.O. Box 202
Fremont, MI 49412
ph:231-924-4050
fax:231-924-1966
www.americandecency.org