In another story out of West Virginia, Kanawha county is refusing to permit the opening of an adult store because it violates an ordinance that bans such establishments within 2000 feet of a school or church.
Last I heard, churches weren’t entitled to any special rights or protections from the state and I don’t believe an ordinance that prohibits adult related businesses near churches would stand constitutional challenge, assuming someone had the money to challenge it up through the judicial system.
But, the prohibition around schools is another story. Protecting children is commonly used as a justification to suppress otherwise completely legal adult oriented commercial activities. With the media and politicians constantly scaring people about the safety of their children, society has become paranoid to the point of hysteria. They mindlessly swallow it up and any official who questions the validity of any law purporting to protect children is essentially committing political suicide. It would be a bit like question the burning of witches back in the 16th century, so everyone goes along regardless of who gets hurt.
A 2000 foot radius encompasses an area of nearly half a square mile, essentially making most urban areas off limits. And churches are everywhere even in rural areas. Also, what makes it ok to locate an adult businesses in rural areas if they aren’t wanted in the cities? Is it because rural folks aren’t as intolerant as those in the cities?
The war against sex targets everyone. Nothing escapes the attention of those who see everything sex related as evil. How long before the American public recognizes that freedom includes sexual activities between adults?
Thanks to reader MacGregory for the link to this story.
There are five churches within a 10 minute walk from my home. In fact, there is one directly behind my house. If you expand that to a 10 minute drive, we’re talking close to 30. How ’bout an ordinance that prevents a church from locating within 2000 feet of another church? I’d vote for that. Oh wait, I don’t get to vote on that. Only county commissions and city councils get to create and pass ordinances.
The Alabama sex toy law was apparently created specifically to force a strip club out of business because they didn’t want it near a newly built church. They simply adopted a law from another state which happened to include a sex toy ban. Suddenly sex toys were banned in Alabama because no one bothered to read the bill before it was passed unanimously.
It’s a hell of a thing for a tax-exempt organization to wield that much power.