A Victory for Families ... A Major Strike Against Obscenity
by Allie Martin
December 13, 2005
(AgapePress) - - In what is being called a major victory for pro-family activists, an appeals court has reinstated federal obscenity charges against a couple who sold obscene videos depicting simulated rape and murder.The decision by the Third U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed an earlier ruling by a federal judge. In that ruling the judge threw out a ten-count indictment on the grounds that the defendants -- Robert Zicari and Janet Romano of California -- had the right to distribute obscene materials through their company (Extreme Associates) under constitutional privacy protections. Federal prosecutors, however, argued that a person's right to possess obscenity did not mean they have a right to receive or distribute it.
Phil Burress, president of Cincinnati-based Citizens for Community Values (CCV), believes the ruling from the Third Circuit could have a major impact.
"This was their last hope of having any possibility of reversing obscenity laws across this country," Burress explains. "We have federal obscenity law that prohibits interstate transportation of obscene material across state lines. That is a federal crime; [individuals are] not allowed to transport -- by use of a common carrier -- hard-core pornography."
The CCV president says he views the ruling as a breakthrough for American families. Such obscene material, he says, is available most anywhere -- and families need to be aware of that.
"People out there need to know that obscene pornography -- which the other side calls 'adult material' -- is being sold on the Internet, is being sold by hotels, is being sold in the back of video stores," Burress says. "Chances are that you live in a state where that is against the law."
He encourages concerned citizens who are aware of obscenity violations to contact their local law enforcement officers. "You need to make sure that [pornographers] are investigated and they're prosecuted," he adds.
Zicari and Romano are now expected to stand trial. They face a maximum of 50 years in prison and fines of up to $2.5 million. Burress says he expects a quick trial, culminating in a guilty verdict.
Allie Martin, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
