From Bloomberg Businessweek:
Missouri passes restrictions on sexual businesses
“No nudity. No touching. No alcohol. No minors. And no business after midnight.
Missouri lawmakers gave final approval Thursday night to a long list of new “no’s” for sexually oriented businesses that would segregate them from the community and keep scantily clad employees separate from patrons.
(snip)
Supporters argued that strip clubs and adult video stores are a scourge on society — contributing to seedy behavior, demeaning women, causing divorces and driving down property values.
(snip)
The Missouri legislation would apply to strip clubs, adult video and book stores and other businesses of a sexual nature, including semi-nude model studios.
It would ban full nudity, alcohol, anyone younger than 18 and touching between semi-nude employees and customers. To ensure strippers are off-limits, the bill requires semi-nude employees to remain on a stage at least 18 inches high and at least 6 feet from customers in a room of at least 600 square feet.
The bill also requires sexually oriented businesses to close at midnight and prohibits them from locating within 1,000 feet of homes, schools, churches, libraries, parks, day cares or other sexually oriented businesses.
(snip)
A lobbyist for Missouri’s adult entertainment association declined to comment Thursday about the legislation. But supporters and opponents alike predicted the bill would face a legal challenge.”
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I don’t buy that scourge on society argument. One could argue that churches are a scourge on society-they contribute to repression, sexual oppression and discrimination, can causse marital strife and possibly affect property values. If you have young children would your really want to live next door to a Catholic church after the abuse scandal broke out? But nobody’s outlawing churches anytime soon.
If the business is in an industrial type area of town how can they legally dictate when a club closes? I mean big box stores are often open 24 hours right?
When Mr. Radical ym’d me this article my first response was-Well, it’s nice to know that Missouri’s economy and crime levels and other assorted problems have all been solved so they can focus on such issues as adult businesses. It’s rich on sarcasm but I think the point is sound. Let’s hope the legal challenge is successful.
Posted by Vixen as News at 9:13 PM CDT