Idaho to Contemplate Porn as a 'Public Health Crisis'

BOISE, Idaho — Now, an Idaho lawmaker wants to officially declare porn a “public health crisis” in his state.

The introduction of a resolution to declare porn a “public health crisis” in Idaho comes the same day the Florida House of Representatives adopted a resolution claiming that the distribution of online adult content is a “public health risk.” Including Florida, five states have made similar symbolic resolutions.

Rep. Lance Clow told the Idaho House State Affairs Committee that he modeled the Idaho resolution on one from Utah. He said “communities, state and nation are being harmed at an epidemic rate” over online porn, according to a report.

“Using pornography can negatively impact brain development and functioning, contribute to emotional and medical illnesses and lead to difficulty in forming or maintaining intimate relationships, as well as create harmful sexual behaviors and addiction,” Clow's resolution states.

The piece of legislation also said that pornography is “linked to a reduced desire in young men to marry, dissatisfaction in marriage, and infidelity.” The committee added the words, “and young women.”

The resolution calls for recognizing the need for education, prevention, research and policy change to combat the use of pornography, and also encourages “all state agencies, local governments and Idaho political subdivisions” to take steps to ensure that pornographic materials can’t be accessed through their internet connections.”

The committee’s unanimous vote to introduce the resolution, along with a bill Clow proposed to direct public libraries in Idaho to expand its internet filtering to cover not only the computers they offer for public use but also their Wi-Fi services, clears the way for full hearings on the issues.