Staff Reports
In a shocking overstep of judicial power, a federal judge has blocked a common-sense law in Texas that aimed to protect children from the harms of pornography. U.S. District Judge David Ezra has once again proven that he cares more about defending the so-called “right” to free speech than safeguarding our children’s innocence. It’s clear that this judge is more interested in appeasing the adult entertainment industry than upholding the values and morals of our great nation.
The law in question, Texas House Bill (HB) 1181, required pornography websites to implement age-verification measures and display warnings about the dangers of pornography. Governor Gregg Abbott, a champion of family values, signed this bill into law, recognizing the urgent need to shield our children from the detrimental effects of explicit content on the internet.
However, the Free Speech Coalition, an organization representing the adult entertainment industry, along with a person who identifies as an adult entertainer (how classy), filed a frivolous lawsuit challenging this vital law. They claimed that it violated their rights, conveniently neglecting the fact that this measure was put in place to protect the youngest and most vulnerable members of our society.
To nobody’s surprise, Judge Ezra sided with the pornographers and struck down the law. He argued that the law violated the sacred right to free speech and raised privacy concerns. While he acknowledged the state’s legitimate interest in shielding children from pornography, he suggested there were better ways to address the issue. What those magical alternatives might be, he did not bother to mention, leaving us to assume that he cares more about protecting the sleazy porn industry than the well-being of our children.
It is truly outrageous that Judge Ezra believes the government tracking access to explicit content infringes upon personal privacy. If individuals have nothing to hide, then why should they be concerned about the government monitoring their online habits? It’s not like they are engaged in illicit activities involving the consumption of harmful and explicit material, right? Oh wait, that’s exactly what they’re doing! This ruling only serves to protect the guilty and undermine the safety and innocence of our children.
Furthermore, Judge Ezra took issue with the factual accuracy of the warnings required by the law. He claimed that the information was contested and unsupported. Well, Judge, it’s easy to claim that scientific findings are “contested” when you’re pandering to the adult entertainment industry. The harms of pornography on developing minds have been extensively studied and proven. It’s a sad day when a judge decides to ignore the preponderance of evidence in favor of perpetuating an industry that thrives on the corruption of our youth.
Thankfully, Texas has vowed to appeal this outrageous ruling. Governor Abbott and the conservative lawmakers of Texas understand the importance of protecting our children and maintaining the values that make our nation great. It’s time for us to rally behind them and demand that our judiciary prioritize the safety and well-being of our children over the perverse profit margins of the pornography industry. It’s time for us to stand up for what is right and protect the innocence of the next generation.
