Ala.: Sex Toys Not Focus of State Adult Ban

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Two government officials responsible for the controversial adult bill banning the sale of sex toys have spoken out, claiming that sex toys were never the focus of the anti-obscenity bill, first proposed in 1998.

Sen. Tom Butler and Madison County District Attorney Tim Morgan said the Anti-Obscenity Enforcement Act was designed to officially shut down strip clubs, and that only one line in the 14-page bill referred to the sale of sex toys.

Both Morgan and Butler said that the line banning the distribution of "any device designed or marketed as useful primarily for the stimulation of the human genital organs" was simply one of the bill's many elements copied from laws already established in surrounding states.

"Neither Tom Butler nor myself or anybody drafted the bill," said Morgan, adding that that task was the state's Legislative Reference Service's responsibility.

Butler's and Morgan's comments were the result of recent media coverage following sex shop owner Sherri William's final appeal of the bill, who took the case to the Supreme Court last week.

"It's become quite an embarrassment to the state," Williams said, who argues that the bill is an unconstitutional intrusion into the bedroom.

However, Morgan believes the law is constitutionally sound, but that the Court will likely decline to hear the case.

As for dealing with the issue at the state level, Morgan said, "Sex toys are not the highest priority on our radar right now."

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