COLUMBUS, OH — There are apparently few things as dangerous to the integrity of a marriage, the healthy development of a child, or the security of a home as a naked woman, especially if she is dancing to loud music and close enough to touch. Because of this real and present danger to the citizens of Ohio, Citizens for Community Values is agitating for limits to how state strip clubs can conduct business.The focus on the group’s outrage isn’t merely strip clubs, however, it’s any and all sexually-oriented businesses. The proposed solution to the unproven problem is something members call the Community Defense Act, although it has nothing to do with protecting the community against natural disasters, terrorist attacks, or infrastructure decay. Instead, it would allow cities to force strip clubs and all other adult entertainment establishments to close by 11:00 pm and mandate a minimum of six-foot distance between nude or semi-nude performers and patrons.
“We believe there is a significant amount of harm that is brought to marriages, families, and homes from unregulated adult businesses,” group representative David Miller told IndeOnline.com.
The Citizens for Community Values website goes a step further, stating categorically in its latest petition to the government that “For years, sexually oriented businesses have been a blight on Ohio — destroying marriages and families while plaguing our communities with increased crime and destroyed property values.”
Previously focused on pushing a constitution amendment banning gay marriage through the Ohio legislature, the group has submitted 220,000 signatures in support of its petition to restrict adult oriented businesses, including strip clubs and video stores. Group members hope to see the proposed act placed on the November general election ballot if it’s not embraced by lawmakers by April.
Rep. John Hagan (R-Marlboro Township) is already onboard the anti-business bandwagon, telling IndeOnline.com that the proposal is “something I can support,” although he admits that “The devil is in the details, but the concept of making sure there is distance between the dancers and the patrons makes sense.”
Hagan’s opinions are likely music to the Community Values group members’ ears, since he hints that such restrictions would only be the beginning.
“What you find in legislation is it’s incremental,” he explains. “If you want to go somewhere, you do it a little piece at a time. That’s why there is further legislation. Some of the things that were originally in House Bill 23 will be in this legislation this round.”
The House Bill which Hagan refers saw the group’s two regulations removed from it before passing, and allowed townships but not cities to use more muscle when dealing with adult businesses.
Hagan sees an important part of the act as being its distinguishing between legal and illegal activity and allegedly pressuring businesses to remain on the right side of the law. “We want to make sure we are not allowing these businesses to operate under the guise of adult entertainment and we’re not allowing it to slide into illegal activity or that we’re making it convenient for them to slide into illegal activity.”
To read the Citizens for Community Values petition visit: http://www.ccv.org/CDA_Petition.htm
