Sex Toys in the Public Interest

Kerry Howley | December 5, 2007

Alabama's sex toy ban--the most important issue of our time--is in peril once again. The Supreme Court rejected an attempt to overturn the law in October, following nine years of legal battles over Alabamans' right to buy vibrating silicone. Tireless sex toy defenders, spurned by the courts, are now trying to pass a bill that would revoke the ban:

It's the second attempt by state Rep. John Rogers, D-Birmingham, to strike the 1998 prohibition on the sale of such devices.

"A shower head could be considered a sex toy," he said. "It's just bringing the state into the 20th century."

Dan Ireland, executive director of the Alabama Citizens' Action Program, a Baptist group, said it would oppose any effort to overturn the law.

"Laws are made to protect the public," he said. "Sometimes you have to protect the public against themselves."

Ireland said 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."

Googling "sex toy crime wave" I managed to find this story about Scottish yobs raiding something called the "the Naughty Vend Machine." So there must be something to the argument.

Meanwhile, Lorretta Nall has started a charity to benefit Attorney General Troy King:

Loretta Nall, the 2006 Libertarian gubernatorial nominee, 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.

Via the Bitch Girls.

Comments

VM|12.5.07 @ 11:53AM|#

""A shower head could be considered a sex toy," he said. "It's just bringing the state into the 20th century.""

Ah ha! Walked in on Mrs Rogers, did he?

thoreau|12.5.07 @ 11:55AM|#

I'm in favor of anything that helps Alabamans get orgasms without assistance from relatives.

The Wine Commonsewer|12.5.07 @ 11:58AM|#

the most important issue of our time

I was going to say Kerry won her own thread, but then I read Mr Tee's comment and now he gets it.

Shower Head ain't bad neither, VM.

The Wine Commonsewer|12.5.07 @ 11:59AM|#

Mad Max, is going to be very unhappy with you Mr Tee. I, OTOH, have redeemed myself with respect to the jokes I made at the expense of Southerners.

BakedPenguin|12.5.07 @ 12:02PM|#

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

This is true. since this law was enacted, the number of deaths by dildo in Alabama have fallen to zero.

VM|12.5.07 @ 12:03PM|#

Grape man - good call!

Doktor T: toys, short, no teeth, and flat heads (to rest your bier on, of course)... all that we need is to genetically engineer southerners to turn into a six pack and a pizza at the end of the evening...

of course that would require stem cell testing, and they'd be against that, too.

|12.5.07 @ 12:04PM|#

"It's just bringing the state into the 20th century."

You damn right, Johnnie. Finally bringing that state to the 20th Century would be a great improvement over the current state of affairs.

Mayor Barkley|12.5.07 @ 12:07PM|#

BakedPenguin | December 5, 2007, 12:02pm | #

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

This is true. since this law was enacted, the number of deaths by dildo in Alabama have fallen to zero.

Sexual Assault with a concrete dildo, has, unfortunately, increased.

First Little Pig|12.5.07 @ 12:18PM|#

Umm... bring Alabama into the 20th century? I thought is was already since 1913 is certainly in the 20th century.

dhex|12.5.07 @ 12:22PM|#

"Laws are made to protect the public," he said. "Sometimes you have to protect the public against themselves."

man color me baffled.

"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."

oh i get it! he's a retard!

the innominate one|12.5.07 @ 12:23PM|#

Clearly, Dan Ireland gets off on controlling the sexual behavior of others. He should be prohibited from doing so by law.

|12.5.07 @ 12:28PM|#

Loretta Nall, the 2006 Libertarian gubernatorial nominee, 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.

That woman is an Odinsend. She is one tough broad, a frontline general in the fight for freedom. I followed her run for governor. She went a little off the libertarian script with bio-diesel and a few other things.

Her work on prison reform is truly inspiring.

Last I spoke to her she was thoroughly disappointed with the Libertarian Party. As the LP candidate she wasn't able to get so much as cab fare or a stamped envelope from them. Oh and marijuana legalization was her premiere issue.

|12.5.07 @ 12:35PM|#

Dan Ireland, executive director of the Alabama Citizens' Action Program, a Baptist group, said it would oppose any effort to overturn the law.

"Laws are made to protect the public," he said. "Sometimes you have to protect the public against themselves."

In my experience, Baptist girls fuck like they just got out of prison.

Just sayin'.

|12.5.07 @ 12:39PM|#

Mayor Barkley, Salamat.

VM|12.5.07 @ 12:45PM|#

this thread was yelling out (MOAR MOAR MOAR) for that reference :)

Stephen Gordon|12.5.07 @ 12:50PM|#

I know Rogers and he's truly a colorful character. The last time I saw him on the legislative floor of the state house, he was wearing a sky blue leather suit.

Between Nall (a close friend) and Rogers, I'm not sure who is the most colorful, but both certainly add spice to politics in a state which hasn't totally realized that the 21st Amendment has been passed.

Reinmoose|12.5.07 @ 12:51PM|#

"Laws are made to protect the public," he said. "Sometimes you have to protect the public against themselves."
....
"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."

Learned English in Alabama, did he?

Baptist Ministers, who we should protect our sex toys against, are not to be so judgemental-oriented.

Franklin Harris|12.5.07 @ 12:57PM|#

Dan Ireland, executive director of the Alabama Citizens' Action Program, a Baptist group, said it would oppose any effort to overturn the law.

As a reporter, when you get all the way down to the ACAP in your Rolodex, it means you can't find anyone else to speak out against something.

The funny thing about the sex-toy ban is that no one is really in favor of it, including, at this point, the state senator who sponsored it. But no one in the legislature, apart from John Rogers, has the guts to repeal it. Even our idiot attorney general probably thinks it's a stupid law, but he defended it in court anyway because all attorneys general everywhere always defend the state's ability to regulate whatever the hell it wants as a matter of principle.

Franklin Harris|12.5.07 @ 12:59PM|#

I know Rogers and he's truly a colorful character. The last time I saw him on the legislative floor of the state house, he was wearing a sky blue leather suit.

Doesn't he wear that suit all the time?

|12.5.07 @ 1:28PM|#

"It's just bringing the state into the 20th century."

Which is especially sad, since the rest of us are well into the 21st century.

|12.5.07 @ 1:57PM|#

"Laws are made to protect the public," he said. "Sometimes you have to protect the public against themselves."

Fuck you, fascist!

You better "make" some laws to protect you from the citizenry. We're not going to take it much longer...

Chuck|12.5.07 @ 1:58PM|#

In my experience, Baptist girls fuck like they just got out of prison.

They try to beat you up and ass-rape you?

|12.5.07 @ 2:19PM|#

If Mr. Ireland is letting his Baptist theology inform his politics, then he is grossly misinformed. First of all, there is nothing in the Bible prohibiting sex toys, sex for pleasure, or even masturbation (1). If a husband wants his wife to strap on and do him with a realisitically sculpted piece of vibrating silicone, there's nothing against it. But beyond that, neither is there any Biblical commandment for Christians to regulate the sexual behavior of others by use of secular law.

Mr. Ireland isn't an upright citizen attempting to instill moral values upon society. He's just an old fashioned prude, and should be treated as such.

(1) Onan's sin wasn't 'batin, it was not performing his fraternal duty.

Stephen Gordon|12.5.07 @ 2:23PM|#

"Doesn't he wear that suit all the time?"

His official photo has him trying to emulate Santa Claus.

The last time I met with him was a year or so ago, but I'd describe his attire that day as somewhat moderate latter-day Huggy Bear.

Alice Bowie|12.5.07 @ 2:30PM|#

How much is that dildo in the window?

|12.5.07 @ 2:35PM|#

It seems that baptist girls also believe that niether blow jobs nor lesbian experimentation are really sex in the biblical sense.

oh yeah. does the ban include goats?

just askin

|12.5.07 @ 6:16PM|#

Loretta Nall has gotten press here in the past for her boobs and for her underwear.

|12.5.07 @ 6:37PM|#

In my experience, Baptist girls fuck like they just got out of prison.

That's probably because they did just get out of prison.

Franklin Harris|12.5.07 @ 6:49PM|#

In my experience, Baptist girls fuck like they just got out of prison.

They try to beat you up and ass-rape you?

Oh, so you've dated one, then?

|12.5.07 @ 9:23PM|#

J sub D-

In my experience, Baptist girls fuck like they just got out of prison.

How do you know that she was "really" a baptist- did your forehead get 'wet'? :o)

|12.5.07 @ 9:59PM|#

I'm shocked (shocked!) that there has been absolutely no "commentary" from the "left" about a "Democrat" who has maintained his hatred of sex toys for 7+ years.

He must be black...

|12.5.07 @ 10:06PM|#

All the Baptist girl comments win the thread!

paul|12.5.07 @ 10:16PM|#

My coverage of Toys for Troy


here

Also see
this about dangerous sex toys.

Stephen Gordon|12.5.07 @ 11:37PM|#

Rimfax,

Loretta doesn't wear underwear, but don't ask how I know.

Franklin Harris|12.6.07 @ 12:36AM|#

Rimfax,

Loretta doesn't wear underwear, but don't ask how I know.

Pleasures, the store that filed suit against Alabama's sex-toy ban, now has amusing disclaimer labels on all of its merchandise.

But don't ask me how I know.

The Libertarian Guy|12.6.07 @ 6:15PM|#

No wonder Boortz calls it "Alabamastan".

Cyril the Cynic|12.7.07 @ 6:14PM|#

"It's just bringing the state into the 20th century."

Since we're in the 21st Century, that means Alabama is only one century behind the time. Yee-haw!

Jenny|12.8.07 @ 9:42AM|#

I think the law should be appealed because to think you can buy a gun but not a vibrator in Alabama makes me wonder what the Government wants people to do.