'Girls Gone Wild' ad ban fails in Tenn. |
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Tue, 24 Apr 2007 22:41
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Lawmakers sponsoring a bill to ban late-night TV ads showing half-naked young women say their fight is not over despite failure of the measure in a legislative subcommittee on Tuesday.The so-called 'Girls Gone Wild' bill died in the House Civil Practice Subcommittee after it got a motion, but failed to get a second by a committee member, which is needed for the legislation to be considered.The bill co-sponsored by Rep. Mike Turner would fine cable and satellite companies up to $50,000 for airing ads for obscene products.Senate sponsor Doug Jackson, D-Dickson, said he got the idea for the legislation after seeing partially censored commercials for 'Girls Gone Wild' videos that show young women baring their breasts and acting out other sexual situations.Turner said such exposure needs to be stopped and he criticized the inaction of the House subcommittee.'This is probably the worst committee in the Legislature,' said the Old Hickory Democrat. 'I think not letting it be heard is undemocratic and I'm ashamed of what they did up there.'Jackson reserved judgment on the panel, saying he hopes to bring the bill back before the committee next year.He's currently awaiting an attorney general's opinion on the constitutionality of the bill before pursuing a vote on the Senate floor.Opponents have said the legislation is an infringement on free speech rights and attempts to criminalize advertising of materials that have not yet been determined to be obscene.'There's constitutional issues when you talk about restraint of expression,' Jackson said.Under current Tennessee law, it's illegal to 'distribute, exhibit or display any obscene materials.' The bill would toughen that law by including anyone or entity that would advertise such materials.'Obviously the product is obscene,' Jackson said. 'I have no doubt that any jury in the state of Tennessee would say that it's obscenity that's being marketed.'Rep. Frank Buck, a subcommittee member who made the motion on the bill, said he believes the constitutional concerns caused the bill to fail.'I think a lot of people have some reservation about whether it's constitutional or not,' said the Dowellton Democrat. 'You have to be real careful anytime you deal with the First Amendment.'Nevertheless, Jackson is optimistic the bill will eventually pass.'We are going to pass it in the Senate and we'll be right back before the subcommittee next year,' he said.Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Video defendant: Judge has gone wild 