Skepticism

Supreme court refuses to examine vibrators

Well, this is a bummer. I wrote earlier this year about the Supreme Court considering an appeal of an Alabama law banning sex toys. In a totally asinine decision, they let the law stand:

“Alabama’s anti-obscenity law, enacted in 1998, bans the distribution of ‘any device designed or marketed as useful primarily for the stimulation of human genital organs for anything of pecuniary value’.... Residents may legally purchase sex toys out of state for use in Alabama, or they may buy sexual devices in Alabama that have a ‘bona fide medical’ purpose.”

Apparently there will be dildo speak-easies after all in Alabama. And, in fact, in several of the surrounding states, which have similar laws.

You’d better be careful about trying to claim you have a “medical need” for an orgasm, too:

“Lopez said adult stores may be cautious about pushing the issue of what constitutes a medical device because the law has strong penalties: Up to a year in jail and a $10,000 fine for a first offense. A second offense carries a prison sentence of one to 10 years.”

I especially loved this quote from the woman who brought the suit in the first place:

“My motto has been they are going to have to pry this vibrator from my cold, dead hand. I refuse to give up,” she said.

You go, girl! May your batteries always hold a charge.
And: may the government get the hell out of my bedside table bottom drawer.

Bug_girl

Bug_girl has a PhD in Entomology, and is a pointy-headed former academic living in Ohio. She is obsessed with insects, but otherwise perfectly normal. Really! If you want a daily stream of cool info about bugs, follow her Facebook page or find her on Twitter.

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10 Comments

  1. "Up to a year in jail and a $10,000 fine for a first offense. A second offense carries a prison sentence of one to 10 years."

    This is unreal! what year is it? Let's bring back the "scarlet letter". I want to see the reaction when the first district attorney brings this case to court. Can you see some one in prison for this crime when asked what are you in for?

    Bug Girl you keep yours in the bottom draw? I would think the top drawer would be quicker to get at. :>) But then I'm a guy what the hell do I know?

  2. "‘any device designed or marketed as useful primarily for the stimulation of human genital organs for anything of pecuniary value’."

    Hmm…Does the prostate count as a "human genital organ"? what about marketing vibrators for gay guys?

    lol.

  3. Next thing to look for is the outlawing of all contraceptives including rubbers. They way most of these shitkickers think god wants people to be punished for having sex that is why he made VD and condoms just get in the way of god's retribution.

  4. Hmm, I can see a lucrative business opportunity creating itself in the form of vibrator smuggling. Then again, I suppose owning and transporting dildoes and vibrators isn't illegal, only selling them is …

    How about this scheme? Buy one 20 dollar battery, get a vibrator free?

  5. Never mind, the wording actually says "distribution", not "sale". And I just looked up the meaning of the word "pecuniary ", and realise something like vouchers would also violate the rules.

    Still, I'm sure there's a way around something like this. For instance, could you pay someone else to order it for you online? Or would that also violate the "distribution" wording?

  6. But it's perfectly fine to keep any number of guns in the house? Or "any device designed or marketed as useful primarily for the" annihilation of another living being? Just appalling.

    Oh, what you non-Americans reading this must think about us!

  7. So,

    Let me see if I understand this.

    In the glorious god fearing state of Alabama, I can be fourteen and involved in a drive-by and get less time (if I plea out) than if I'm caught twice selling a dildo?

    I'm glad that at least one state has their priorities straight.

    I guess the people of Alabama had better keep their lawns well watered! I'd hate to think how much jail time you could get for that. (Do they still have the electric chair in Alabama???)

    rod

  8. Well Briarking, you're also allowed to own any number of dildoes and/or vibrators, you're just not allowed to sell them.

    Unlike guns …

    Well, I suppose your point still stands.

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