Community Defense Act (Local group targets strip clubs)

[The Straight Story]

Local group targets strip clubs

COLUMBUS – Ohioans will vote this fall on school boards, town councils, local levies – and, if one group has its way, strip clubs.

The Sharonville group that led the effort to ban same-sex marriage in Ohio has now set its sights on strip clubs and adult book stores. Citizens for Community Values petitioned state legislators to place the Community Defense Act on the Nov. 6 ballot.

The act would:
• Ban nude dancing after midnight or before 6 a.m.
• Bans customers from getting within six-feet of an exotic dancer, who must be on a stage at least two feet above the floor.
• Allow customers, strip club owners, dancers or other employees who violate the new rules to be charged with a first-degree misdemeanor punishable by a $1,000 fine and up to six months in jail.


Supporters of the bill say it’s needed because strip clubs and other adult businesses increase prostitution and other crimes, lower neighborhood property value and harm families.

But opponents say the Sharonville group is trying to impose its morals on the rest of Ohio – and that there’s no evidence strip clubs are causing any problems.

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070304/NEWS01/70304014

[Ignacio Upton]

1. Fuck this

This should be handled by towns and cities, NOT the state.

[MADem]

2. What a cheap tactic, to tie marriage rights to strip clubs and naughty bookstores.

One is a civil rights issue, the other is a zoning issue.

How low can people go?

[cali]

5. Yep. That's really the issue.

And as someone else noted, it should be up to the towns and cities. Other than that, I have no problem with what they want to accomplish. I live in a state that has very few such establishments. Can't say I think we're deprived.

[MADem]

9. Indeed, I don't blame people for being NIMBY with regard to the latter

But tying the two very disparate matters together is just incredibly wicked, IMO. They aren't the same thing. One is a human rights matter, the other is, as I said, zoning.

The linkage creates an impression that the first issue is somehow 'equivalent' to the second.

[Vidar]

3. Getting rid of Blackwell apparently wasn't enough.

[depakid]

4. Ohio- the same state where art museum officials prosecuted

for having the temerity to exhibit Robert Maplethorpe. There's clearly something wrong with many of the people there. In some respects, it's as bad as the deep south.

[HuffleClaw]

6. they won't be happy until the only reading material that is legal is the BIBLE

seriously.

[Hubert Flottz]

7. Where will the preachers go for a lap dance?

West Virginia?

[Hubert Flottz]

8. A lap dance is always better if the preacher is cryin'