Bill would make sale of sex toys illegal in South Carolina

AP ^ | 4/23/6 | Seanna Adcox

[Crackingham]

Lucy’s Love Shop employee Wanda Gillespie said she was flabbergasted that South Carolina’s Legislature is considering outlawing sex toys. But banning the sale of sex toys is actually quite common in some Southern states.

The South Carolina bill, proposed by Republican Rep. Ralph Davenport, would make it a felony to sell devices used primarily for sexual stimulation and allow law enforcement to seize sex toys from raided businesses.

"That would be the most terrible thing in the world," said Ms. Gillespie, an employee the Anderson shop. "That is just flabbergasting to me. We are supposed to be in a free country, and we’re supposed to be adults who can decide what want to do and don’t want to do in the privacy of our own homes."

Ms. Gillespie, 49, said she has worked in the store for nearly 20 years and has seen people from every walk of life, including "every Sunday churchgoers."

"I know of multiple marriages that sex toys have sold because some people need that. The people who are riding us (the adult novelty industry) so hard are probably at home buying it (sex toys and novelties) on the Internet. It’s ridiculous." The measure would add sex toys to the state’s obscenity laws, which already prohibit the dissemination and advertisement of obscene materials.

People convicted under obscenity laws face up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

[upchuck]

Oh, I forgot...

<sarcasm>[insert my post here]</sarcasm>

I guess some folks wouldn't recognize sarcasm if it bit them in the butt.

[ZULU]

Does this cover Monica Lewinski dolls?

[Drango]

sell devices used primarily for sexual stimulation...

Um, um.... it's a neck massager. Yeah, that's what it is.

[Between the Lines]

Many bills are proposed. Not all of them pass. Perhaps this will be one of those that do not.

No other legislator has signed on as a co-sponsor, and its passage this year seems unlikely.

[robertpaulsen]

"The states should be able to regulate the moral and legal tone that represents the will of the people in those states -- including regulation of abortion, legalization of marijuana, etc."

I feel exactly the same way. I'd also support the repeal of the 14th and 17th amendments, two amendments which have done more to destroy federalism than the Commerce Clause ever will.

That said, bear in mind that the Supremacy Clause does state that federal law trumps state law. If Congress chooses to constitutionally act on an issue, the states are bound by the U.S. Constitution to comply.

[Shimmer128]

That's what I was thinking....I'd hate to be this Davenport guy's wife!!!!!!

[Thermalseeker]

Thus creating a sex toy black market?

Sex toy shops will spring up along the borders of all the neighboring states where they are still legal to sell, just like lottery outlets in Georgia and Tennessee and the low tax cigarrette vendors in NC....

[KoRn]

They must be in a wonderful state of affairs down there if something like this is worth the legislature spending its time on. I would never live in such a crazy place.

From now on I'm going to refer to it as South Carolinastan. Next there will be public executions of women who use bad language, and long prison sentences for people who engage in sex out of marriage.

[muir_redwoods]

"If you don't want them, don't buy them."

Exactly, it's called freedom but I doubt that you can see through your own sarcasm

[Between the Lines]

Other states that ban the sale of sex toys include Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and Texas.

I actually think this bill has more to do with closing down the huge sex shops popping up along the interstates than with anything else.

I find it hard to believe that they would outlaw sex toys and ignore the fact that South Carolina has one of the largest swinger clubs in the south headquartered here in York county.

[robertpaulsen]

"While I disagree with this law as a general principle because it's heavy-handed nanny-statism"

I am under the impression that this has the support of the people. Am I wrong?

If the legislature is merely enacting the will of the people ... I guess I don't understand your comment. What you're calling "nanny-statism" I simply call self-rule.

[KoRn]

""drop the vibrator or we'll shoot". "

ROFL!!!!!!!!!!

Seriously though, this is the most leftist thing I've heard of a state government doing in a long time.

[robertpaulsen]

"Exactly, it's called freedom but I doubt that you can see through your own sarcasm"

So, you'd accept the scenario I outlined?

[MACVSOG68]

Well, we have survived the "back to the Confederacy" crowd, and the Christian Exodus crowd, so I guess we can survive this piece of lunacy too. To those radicals who like this legislation I say keep your Bible out of my bedroom, and I'll keep my moral compass out of yours.

[rellimpank]

--must be an election coming up --

[Salo]

We can't even keep the Lt. Governor from trying to set land speed records in his taxpayer-funded car burning taxpayer-funded gas. :-)

Yes, I agree. Hmm... I didn't know our state was a perfect place with no pressing problems, did you?

[NY.SS-Bar9]

Hmmmmm. . . guess that just leaves the rental market.

Wonder if that would work like bowling shoes - a quick spray of sanitizer....

[muir_redwoods]

RP I've wasted enough bandwidth with you previously to waste any more here. You simply cannot understand the very concept of freedom and personal responsibility and I am not willing to waste any more time or effort trying to educate you.

Enjoy your vassal status with the state, I chose freedom.

[icemaniceman]

will I have to give up my vibrating Gillette Fusion razor?

pop the razor head off and amaze your partner. (see how pc I am)

for $12 you can bring a lot of pleasure to someone you love and no one will snicker at you at the airline security desk

[rellimpank]

--and then there are electric toothbrushes--