A post-lunch porn rush is under way at Hollywood at Home Movies and Magazines. A few men ranging in age from late 20s to upper 60s pass by the new releases and classics in the front of the Overland Park store. Over the course of an hour on a Tuesday afternoon, men march up the stairs at the back of the store, push through the see-through, baby-blue curtain and enter a tiny room dedicated to adult magazines and videos. They browse the movie titles, flip through the magazines and, eventually, drop $7 apiece to rent videos for four nights.
On the store's back wall, a poster advertises Hustler publisher Larry Flynt's best-selling book Sex, Lies & Politics: The Naked Truth. The pornography baron watches over the shop like a portly guardian angel, and he's an appropriate one. Hollywood at Home is caught in a Flynt-style free-speech fight.
On September 25, a Johnson County grand jury indicted the video store on misdemeanor criminal charges of promoting obscenity. The store's alleged crime was renting out four allegedly obscene movies — Don't Kiss Me I'm Straight, Hellcats 12, Anal Machines and Real Female Masturbation. A man who gave his name as Sean O'Cleary rented the videos in late August and never returned them. He had paid a $100 deposit and, later, called to tell the store that he'd turned the films over to the grand jury.
The grand jury handed down 15 obscenity charges against the store and three other Johnson County businesses. They're accused of renting out racy videos, selling sex toys and displaying obnoxious Halloween costumes.
Johnson County isn't alone. Citizen petitions have forced grand juries to convene throughout Kansas. This grassroots effort is the work of Phillip Cosby, a Ned Flanders look-alike and anti-pornography crusader. The 56-year-old retired Army master sergeant is the zealous leader of the Kansas City office of the National Coalition for the Protection of Children & Families.
Cosby calls sex shops "an open sewer," "a moral cancer" and "a wicked stronghold." He has cautioned that "a tsunami is hitting our community." He blames the sex industry for causing rape and pedophilia. (Violent secondary effects of porn consumption have been widely discredited.) He has even coined a pet name for businesses that sell adult videos or sex toys: SOBs — an acronym for "sexually oriented businesses."
Cosby's bosses at the Cincinnati-based National Coalition preach "biblical sexual ethics." They don't want people watching porn, reading X-rated magazines, masturbating with sex toys or engaging in premarital or gay sex. They want trials in order to redefine obscenity in communities throughout Kansas.
The coalition's vision of community standards may not be representative of Johnson County, as a trip to Hollywood at Home and the other accused stores implies. Still, Cosby's Kansas City pornography jihad will serve as a test run for the rest of America: If he successfully shuts down the metro area's porn shops, the national office will wage similar holy wars with porn stores across the nation.
But Cosby's efforts are toothless. The Kansas obscenity statute that Cosby relies on has been ruled unconstitutional, and the stores he has targeted can beat the charges — if they choose to fight.
Cosby's strategy is possible thanks to a Kansas law that allows any citizen to convene a grand jury.
Cosby declined to discuss his strategy with The Pitch for this story, citing the paper's "bent." "We're not really moving in the same direction," he said. "I know you believe what you believe, and I believe what I believe, and I think we're just not a good fit."
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It represents the leisure fishing rods reels, this is no doubt. I think you must also lovelures for bass fishing you can find lovesalt water fishing rods that wonderful things, and I think you must be able to love. If you feelsalt water fishing tackle is so great and you can introduce it to others. I think you will fall in love with the friendstips for bass fishing
In the shop we can buy different wedding dress, such as cheap wedding gowns, and I think you must be able to love bridal gowns. If you feel cheap bridal gowns is so great, and you can introduce it to others to buy bridal gowns.
In the shop we can buy different wedding dress, such as cheap wedding gowns, and I think you must be able to love bridal gowns. If you feel cheap bridal gowns is so great, and you can introduce it to others to buy bridal gowns.
I can't stand people like Phil Cosby. It's folks like him that make me ashamed to be an American. These buttwipes dont have a clue what it means to be a REAL AMERICAN, a True American. Apparently, Cosby and his kind don't give a damn about the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, or the Separation of Church and State. They can't begin to understand the concepts of LIBERTY, INDEPENDENCE, OR FREEDOM ~~ except as it applies to only them. And they would love to brainwash you with their rubbish under the guise of 'family values'. Do not be fooled by their tired, old rhetoric. These bible-thumping nutcases want a theocracy, NOT democracy! And they will do whatever they can to get it. I've heard that moron Phil Cosby on radio talk-shows a few times. He sounds like he is dumber than a box of rocks. How he has managed to help spearhead this campaign in the KC area is beyond me. Cosby [and his associates] belong in a mental institution. While there, maybe they could give him an industrial-strength enema to clean out all that BS in his brain! Religious nutcases have NO business being in politics, public office, or making social policy for the rest of us. Unfortunately, that is exactly what has happened over the years in our 'great country'.....For those of you who are still SANE in the Midwest, it is time to stand up and fight back against these fascist assholes. Wake up and smell the feces, people! It is time to make a stand. Because if you do not, these nazis will be more than happy to do your thinking for you.
I can't stand people like Phil Cosby. It's folks like him that make me ashamed to be an American. These buttwipes dont have a clue what it means to be a REAL AMERICAN, a True American. Apparently, Cosby and his kind don't give a damn about the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, or the Separation of Church and State. They can't begin to understand the concepts of LIBERTY, INDEPENDENCE, OR FREEDOM ~~ except as it applies to only them. And they would love to brainwash you with their rubbish under the guise of 'family values'. Do not be fooled by their tired, old rhetoric. These bible-thumping nutcases want a theocracy, NOT democracy! And they will do whatever they can to get it. I've heard that moron Phil Cosby on radio talk-shows a few times. He sounds like he is dumber than a box of rocks. How he has managed to help spearhead this campaign in the KC area is beyond me. Cosby [and his associates] belong in a mental institution. While there, maybe they could give him an industrial-strength enema to clean out all that BS in his brain! Religious nutcases have NO business being in politics, public office, or making social policy for the rest of us. Unfortunately, that is exactly what has happened over the years in our 'great country'.....For those of you who are still SANE in the Midwest, it is time to stand up and fight back against these fascist assholes. Wake up and smell the feces, people! It is time to make a stand. Because if you do not, these nazis will be more than happy to do your thinking for you.
The fact that somebody thinks they can force there opinion on other people is an insault.I happen to love porn,but you don't see me out picketing churches becuse ,they don't have a naked choir.If you are 18 years old and you want to put a dildo in your butt so be it. It's not your butt its not my butt nor is it your or my money. This is a store you I and everybody knows sells sexual products if you don't want yourself or your kids to see these things drive on by I'll wave at you. (YOU ARE NOT REALLY AN AMERICAN) when you call a truck drives wife because he's buying a mag, or calling his work. You can picket all you want.that's your right. Voice your opinion,don't try to voice mine.
DC Jan 8,2008
The fact that somebody thinks they can force there opinion on other people is an insault.I happen to love porn,but you don't see me out picketing churches becuse ,they don't have a naked choir.If you are 18 years old and you want to put a dildo in your butt so be it. It's not your butt its not my butt nor is it your or my money. This is a store you I and everybody knows sells sexual products if you don't want yourself or your kids to see these things drive on by I'll wave at you. (YOU ARE NOT REALLY AN AMERICAN) when you call a truck drives wife because he's buying a mag, or calling his work. You can picket all you want.that's your right. Voice your opinion,don't try to voice mine. DC Jan 8,2008
#3
Let she who is without sin cast the first stone...
Judge not, lest ye be judged
Listen to #2... it is NO MAN's place to try to control what "sin" is accessible, or allowed, or not. You can say you think it's a sin. But you have no right, no one does, to STOP others from choosing to "sin" if they want to. Including your children.
Teach them your beliefs...but they are individuals in the eyes of God too, with their own choices to make. It is you job just to love them.
I was lucky enough to have a mother who, when I was confused by the world around me as a child, and asked her it would be OK when I grew up if I loved a black man, or another woman, she simply said:
"If you're happy, I would love and support you no matter what. But I would feel bad for you to have to face the world, because other people can be cruel and make your choices difficult for you."
I ended up being pretty straight, but I know if she'd been heavily opinionated and oppressive, I would have rebelled against it.
#2, you seem wise, and should be holding lectures for all those in the religious right trying to control our country! Amen to your true moral wisdom.
#3 Let she who is without sin cast the first stone... Judge not, lest ye be judged Listen to #2... it is NO MAN's place to try to control what "sin" is accessible, or allowed, or not. You can say you think it's a sin. But you have no right, no one does, to STOP others from choosing to "sin" if they want to. Including your children. Teach them your beliefs...but they are individuals in the eyes of God too, with their own choices to make. It is you job just to love them. I was lucky enough to have a mother who, when I was confused by the world around me as a child, and asked her it would be OK when I grew up if I loved a black man, or another woman, she simply said: "If you're happy, I would love and support you no matter what. But I would feel bad for you to have to face the world, because other people can be cruel and make your choices difficult for you." I ended up being pretty straight, but I know if she'd been heavily opinionated and oppressive, I would have rebelled against it.
#2, you seem wise, and should be holding lectures for all those in the religious right trying to control our country! Amen to your true moral wisdom.
As a child I was raised in a pentecostal church, and I will tell you that force feeding a child religion will backfire upon you in the long run, but the fact that I am open enough to share my views on sexuality and the perversions that everyone has different opinions on, my children are more educated because they NEED TO BE! And if you do not start with this education at an early age they will find it somewhere else without your knowledge. So if you consider that I sell Passion PArties as a great sin, I want to ask a question that I think you really need to think about! Would you rather watch the divorce rate continue to climb, OR would you encourage people to enjoy themselves in their OWN homes with some of the aids or "smut" that you call it, and build a stronger relationship by opening a line of communication between them? I personally have set a goal to bring that divorce statistic down by opening the minds of the people who I am blessed enough to be invited into their homes to show them the products I sell. Should a 14 yr old know about all things, NO, but that is the job of the parent to make them aware of what is going on in the world! Masturbation by no means is a sin, but something that we as humans need to do to find what makes us happy and that we can communicate when we do find the partner for life so we will stay happy together longer! I personally dont see how this CRUSADE is helping our communities because again it is just taking away another RIGHT as an American to enrich our lives the way we want to. Again governments form of THINKING for us!!!! I ramble sorry this a definite subject of interest to me!!
As a child I was raised in a pentecostal church, and I will tell you that force feeding a child religion will backfire upon you in the long run, but the fact that I am open enough to share my views on sexuality and the perversions that everyone has different opinions on, my children are more educated because they NEED TO BE! And if you do not start with this education at an early age they will find it somewhere else without your knowledge. So if you consider that I sell Passion PArties as a great sin, I want to ask a question that I think you really need to think about! Would you rather watch the divorce rate continue to climb, OR would you encourage people to enjoy themselves in their OWN homes with some of the aids or "smut" that you call it, and build a stronger relationship by opening a line of communication between them? I personally have set a goal to bring that divorce statistic down by opening the minds of the people who I am blessed enough to be invited into their homes to show them the products I sell. Should a 14 yr old know about all things, NO, but that is the job of the parent to make them aware of what is going on in the world! Masturbation by no means is a sin, but something that we as humans need to do to find what makes us happy and that we can communicate when we do find the partner for life so we will stay happy together longer! I personally dont see how this CRUSADE is helping our communities because again it is just taking away another RIGHT as an American to enrich our lives the way we want to. Again governments form of THINKING for us!!!! I ramble sorry this a definite subject of interest to me!!
You know what I find obscene? The fact that taxpayer money and time is being wasted on some religious nut's personal crusade. Fortunately the first amendment protects us from people like this, who are little better than fascists in that they want to impose their will on everyone else.
All of you who are for this, get a clue. Not everyone shares your beliefs, get over it. Church and state are separated in this great nation of ours, so don't mix the two by bringing frivolous crap like this to court, be it civil or criminal. These stores also aren't going to see any of this "obscene" material to your kids, so stop trying to use children as a shield for your own insecurities. If they get it from anywhere, they'll probably get it from your own stash, or there's always the internet. You know what would be best for the kids? If you actually show some responsibility as a parent, take them aside, and talk to them - explain sex and morality to them. The very worst thing you can do is to treat adults like children. In fact, this picketing, writing down license plates, calling businesses and homes, and assembling grand juries to try cases that will fail is the height of infantile behavior. Mind your own business and keep your nose out of mine or anyone else's for that matter.
Why not expend your time and energy on something more worth while? Like say stopping the violence in schools, which is a much larger threat to your children? Why not get that church group together to do some charity work? Put a food pantry together and organize donations for the poor? Organize soup lines and volunteer down at the homeless shelters? Pick up litter down at the local park? Organize after-school activities for children? Sponsor a local scout troop? You know, something that would actually involve spending some time with those children and keeping them occupied where you can keep an eye on them?
You know what I find obscene? The fact that taxpayer money and time is being wasted on some religious nut's personal crusade. Fortunately the first amendment protects us from people like this, who are little better than fascists in that they want to impose their will on everyone else. All of you who are for this, get a clue. Not everyone shares your beliefs, get over it. Church and state are separated in this great nation of ours, so don't mix the two by bringing frivolous crap like this to court, be it civil or criminal. These stores also aren't going to see any of this "obscene" material to your kids, so stop trying to use children as a shield for your own insecurities. If they get it from anywhere, they'll probably get it from your own stash, or there's always the internet. You know what would be best for the kids? If you actually show some responsibility as a parent, take them aside, and talk to them - explain sex and morality to them. The very worst thing you can do is to treat adults like children. In fact, this picketing, writing down license plates, calling businesses and homes, and assembling grand juries to try cases that will fail is the height of infantile behavior. Mind your own business and keep your nose out of mine or anyone else's for that matter. Why not expend your time and energy on something more worth while? Like say stopping the violence in schools, which is a much larger threat to your children? Why not get that church group together to do some charity work? Put a food pantry together and organize donations for the poor? Organize soup lines and volunteer down at the homeless shelters? Pick up litter down at the local park? Organize after-school activities for children? Sponsor a local scout troop? You know, something that would actually involve spending some time with those children and keeping them occupied where you can keep an eye on them?
Methinks Cosby doth protest too much. He sure seems to enjoy buying up sex toys and videos for his "evidence" collection. What do we think the chances are that Cosby's got a little Ted Haggard in him? Pun fully intended, thank you.
Methinks Cosby doth protest too much. He sure seems to enjoy buying up sex toys and videos for his "evidence" collection. What do we think the chances are that Cosby's got a little Ted Haggard in him? Pun fully intended, thank you.
To be brief, I find it shocking that religious beliefs can be projected onto others to a degree of delegating what product a person may or may not purchase based on those views. I dont feel that is morally right. I would not want to try to impose my beliefs and thoughts onto someone else to a degree of control. However simply, I think if things like these were not a big deal they would not be so bad. In short, people are wierd... really wierd, they have urges and theres nothing wrong with that.
On a lighter note, I was wondering who that gorgeous girl was who graced the cover and inside story for this issue. Without making a complete ass out of myself I will simply say she was looking really cute in that cop outfit. I looked for a name throughout the issue, (only have so much time to read the pitch on my work break!) but did not find any. Maybe i missed it, but wanted to make sure she got her recognition. So I will leave it at that, wondering who she is, and paying a compliment.
Keep it up, I will read as always
cheers.
To be brief, I find it shocking that religious beliefs can be projected onto others to a degree of delegating what product a person may or may not purchase based on those views. I dont feel that is morally right. I would not want to try to impose my beliefs and thoughts onto someone else to a degree of control. However simply, I think if things like these were not a big deal they would not be so bad. In short, people are wierd... really wierd, they have urges and theres nothing wrong with that. On a lighter note, I was wondering who that gorgeous girl was who graced the cover and inside story for this issue. Without making a complete ass out of myself I will simply say she was looking really cute in that cop outfit. I looked for a name throughout the issue, (only have so much time to read the pitch on my work break!) but did not find any. Maybe i missed it, but wanted to make sure she got her recognition. So I will leave it at that, wondering who she is, and paying a compliment. Keep it up, I will read as always cheers.
The fact that the good pastor is so afraid of masturbation is probably the source of his frustration. My opinion.
The fact that the good pastor is so afraid of masturbation is probably the source of his frustration. My opinion.
Personally as a Christian and the parent of a young child I am glad to see this being brought to the attention of the general public. I am tired of turning off the TV, avoiding magazine isles, avoiding certain stores, etc. because the amount of sexually suggestive material that is out in the general public. It's not just specific stores that sell this type of material, it is everywhere you go today. I don't want the public teaching my child about sex, or what they consider sexually appropriate-THAT IS MY JOB AS HER PARENT!
Too many in todays society believe this is a freedom of speech issue. Personally I don't think so, it is infringing on my rights to parent and educate my child on matters of sexual moraity. Children and younger and younger ages are beig exposed to perverse sexual ideas, and being so trusting and immature they believe what they are being exposed to is acceptable. As a result I believe we will be seeing more profound sexual perversions as this next generation grows up due to the typee and amount of exposure they are currently experiencing.
Allowing such filth to be "out there" is a banner cause of the liberals. They use the beliefs of the founding fathers of this nation to justify this cause. The pilgrims came to America so that they could worship without persecution from the English church. It was this principle that the Constitution of the United States was founded. I doubt that they ever envisioned it being used to promote sexual promiscuity.
Jesus may not have said that it is our mission to remove sin from this earth, but he did say that we had an obligation to point out the sin and guide the sinner away from this behavior. As Chrisitians we all have an obligation to point out the sins within ourselves, and society as a whole. The midwest is rapidly going from the bible belt to one of sexual depravity. We may not be as sexually depraved as other cities, but that is not an award that I would personally want for anyone to acquire.
If you choose to stand on the premise that these people have a right to sell this smut, then ask yourself this question-How would you feel if your child or grandchild came home and told you that they were doing the same thing that you condoned? Probably with sadness, anger, dismay, and shock. But you should not be, as you have either verbally or non-verbally told them that it is acceptable to you and your family. children learn by example, what type of example are you showing future generations of your family?
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