Texas Ban On Sex Toy Sales Overturned

[RamboLiberal]

Source: CBS News

A federal appeals court has overturned a statute outlawing sex toy sales in Texas, one of the last states - all in the South - to retain such a ban.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Texas law making it illegal to sell or promote obscene devices, punishable by as many as two years in jail, violated the right to privacy guaranteed by the 14th Amendment.

Companies that own Dreamer's and Le Rouge Boutique, which sell the devices in its Austin stores, and the retail distributor Adam & Eve sued in federal court in Austin in 2004 over the constitutionality of the law. They appealed after a federal judge dismissed the suit and said the Constitution did not protect their right to publicly promote such devices.

In its decision Tuesday, the appeals court cited Lawrence and Garner v. Texas, the U.S. Supreme Court's 2003 opinion that struck down bans on consensual sex between same-sex couples.

"Just as in Lawrence, the state here wants to use its laws to enforce a public moral code by restricting private intimate conduct," the appeals judges wrote. "The case is not about public sex. It is not about controlling commerce in sex. It is about controlling what people do in the privacy of their own homes because the state is morally opposed to a certain type of consensual private intimate conduct. This is an insufficient justification after Lawrence."


Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/02/14/national/main3829467.shtml

[truthisfreedom]

1. So fun is allowed in Texas now! (beyond bush and 'leezy's boots!)

About time.

[monktonman]

2. Can I use a condom with my dildo???

next thing you know Rick Santorum will be telling us
we have to marry our dildo's before we have sex with them.

What if my dildo rapes me? will Texas give it the death penalty?
If my Dildo- rapist gets me pregnant will I be denied an abortion?
If so, will Texas give me welfare to help care for the Dil-child or will I have to name the
father and collect Dil-child support?

I think I'll name my dil-child....Rubbert Johnson.

(hope I didnt offend anyone....just having fun.)

Edit for mis-spelling of the word condom (sorry, dont use them very often.)

[my2sense]

4. Too Funny

Although I was eating a dill pickle while I was reading this comment...I was like, must you abbreviate the dil? LOL

:rofl:

[monktonman]

6. there only one L in dildo

get your sex toys spelling straight.

You would think pukes would love Dil..er...sex toys.
Think about it.... I can stick a thumb up my ass and get my nut off.
God gave me thumbs so it must be ok. right?
Youd think the pukes would realize that Dildos are a thumb in the hole substitute
they could make money off of.
Cant regulate thumbs but you sure as hell can regulate the sale of dildos.
thumb-in-hole regulation means $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$!!

Next up: the NAS-DICK index is up by 500 points!

[WillParkinson]

10. I asked the baker lady at work one night...

If you wanted to make a really good dill bread what would you need to do?

She said, "To make good dill bread you need a nice dill dough." I said, "Really, Michelle? What kind of dildo do you prefer?"

She then caught it.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

19. and had you arrested, eh?

[WillParkinson]

24. Nope...

She was a very quiet and unassuming person when she started working on 3rd shift. But she's come out of her shell since she's realized it's OK to have friends at work. She enjoys the company of our Night Manager and me. I personally think it's just work-induced stress, but she insists she likes us both.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

28. it is nice to get along with those with whom you work.

I'm self-employed and I try to follow that rule, as well.

[Bake]

39. I'm calling BS on that one; that's an OLD joke ...

But it does make a great story!

:rofl:

Bake

[WillParkinson]

52. Nope...

No BS. Michelle is/was very innocent about a lot of things. Especially sexual stuff. She catches herself saying things that can be taken the wrong way. And that's why we love her as we do.

[raccoon]

27. I think the reason some fundie/republican men don't like them is

it means women don't need the men to satisfy them. Not saying they do that anyway. :evilgrin:

[Demeter]

20. I Was Afraid You'd Pick "Dilbert" for the Offspring

[monktonman]

35. That would be too easy... n/t

[raebrek]

22. Dil-arious n/t

[physioex]

3. LOL...

Think of the blackmarket in sex toys that would have "sprung". Thanks to the internets, the days of the Xtian fundies picketing 7-11 over Playboy magazines are long gone.

[Syrinx]

5. an Alabama legislator is introducing a bill to repeal the ban

On selling such things. I hope it passes, though I have my doubts.

Regardless, there is a store that I could easily walk to if, for some reason, I wanted a dildo.

[krispos42]

7. Just in time for the rebate checks

I anticipate a booming economy in the sex-toy market in the near future as repressed demand is infused with ready cash and cut loose!!!

[monktonman]

9. Now I know where I'm gonna spend my "rebate"

then I can claim I was truly FUCKED by the Bush administration.

[krispos42]

13. Son't forget the batteries...

:-)

[readmoreoften]

8. Aw, dammit. Going into sex shops was so much fun. It was like a mad lib game.

It's funny, the sex shops would just have to call phallic-shaped products "models" and "party favor" and "cake topping" and other really banal euphemisms in order to comply with the "novelty purchase only" law. The sales clerks would show you to the back room and tell you all about their products:

"This is our 7 1/2 inch model. The model is 1 & 3/4inches in circumference. Many of our clients feel that this model suits their purposes. Incidentally, this model is comprised of a high-grade silicone that, when heated, assumes the texture of skin. As a novelty cake topping, it weighs a little under a two pounds. The two round orbs fused together at the base of this model are quite pendulous, and the suction cup behind the two orbs will attach easily to your cake. If it doesn't attach to your cake as easily as you desire, you can purchase a harness that will easily attach the party favor to your cake, but even our starter harnesses costs over fifty dollars. I'll add in this lubricant for free, if you like. It works well with this novelty item and it contains no glycerin, which is irritating to some people's icing. Will that be all? Great. Your hilarious novelty purchase comes to $135.14. Have a great time at the bachelorette party this evening! Next customer...Howdy fella, how can I help you?"

"Yeah. Uh I'd like some anal...uh...some.., rosary beads."

"Half-inch around big enough?"

"Uh... one inch if you have it..."

[Frank Cannon]

15. LOL

:thumbsup:

[bpj62]

48. ELO

I loved ELO when I was teenager in the 70's. Mr. Blue Sky, Strange Magic, Telephone Line. My best frieds brother was 13 years older then he was and he used to give us all of his old albums. That is how I got hooked on ELO. He was also quite the conisour of Swedish Erotica 8mm films so both topics tie in quite nicely here.

[intaglio]

11. The judges are just trying to stimulate

the Economy. But like all librul efforts it will fail! If these devices of the Devil go on sale:-

Women will have no reason to ask for new washing machines with the high speed spin cycle

What girl will want to learn to horseback riding if she has one of these things available?

Texan men will find their wifies asking "Hey! I thought everything in Texas was supposed to be big?"

The skill of hand crafting lingams will die

Bands of rabid, lesbian, socialised nurses will roam the state forcing the flower of Texas womanhood to vote for Democrat candidates!

[monktonman]

12. And somewhere in Waco there will be a village idiot....

with his thumb in his ass.
Or is that his pet goat?
(calling Rick Santorum)

PS on edit...I hope you all realize I think dildo humor is funny as hell. must be the kid in me. Then again...if I used a dildo there would be no kid in me! Hardy-har-har-har.!!!

Fuck I want a duzy really bad........

[Solly Mack]

14. It's all fun and games until someone hides the batteries

[dipsydoodle]

16. Given that dead bodies seem to ok in WI

I'da thunk that a few toys paled into insignificance.

Court: Corpse Sex Not Illegal In Wisconsin
LANCASTER, WIS—A Wisconsin appeals court has upheld the dismissal of charges against the three men who dug up a woman’s corpse last year to have sex with it because Wisconsin has no law against necrophilia.

In a 3-0 Court of Appeals decision, it was held that a lower court judge was correct in dismissing the charges against twin brothers Nicholas and Alexander Grunke and Dustin Radke, all 21, last September because state lawmakers hadn’t intended to criminalize sex with a corpse.

The trio decided to dig up the body of Laura Tennessen, 20, who had been killed in a motorcycle accident after seeing her picture in an obituary notice in the newspaper. None of the three men knew the woman.

Radke told police that the three had stopped at a Wal-Mart on the way to the cemetery to buy condoms. They were arrested last Sept. 2 at the St. Charles Cemetery in Grant County, southwestern Wisconsin after police received a complaint about suspicious activity. The police report says that they found a vehicle which had been parked near the cemetery and then saw Alexander Grunke walking towards the vehicle, dressed in black. On questioning, Grunke told police that his brother and Radke were digging up a grave. Police found that the grave of a 20-year-old woman who had been killed Aug. 27 in a motorcycle accident had been partially dug up, with only the top of the concrete vault visible. Nicholas Grunke and Radke were arrested the following morning about eight miles from the cemetery.Prosecutors had appealed the dismissal of the charges, saying that there was a provision in the sexual assault law that says criminal penalties apply “whether a victim is dead or alive at the time of the sexual contact or sexual intercourse”. The court decision held that while the law was ambiguous, the most reasonable interpretation was that it does not ban necrophilia.

http://www.northcountrygazette.org/news/2007/07/27/corpse_sex/

[raccoon]

30. If this happened in a Southern state, somebody would be sure to post,

"Well, what can you expect in {insert name of Southern state}?"

Or make some reference to the IQ's of the residents.

Prejudice against the South/Southerners is still acceptable, even in DU.

[Robb]

31. True enough

...Such comments about Texas are tempered by the fear most of them are armed to the gills. :hide:









:D

[monktonman]

37. Now thats cold... n/t

[Larry Ogg]

17. This is a great day

I’m sure Ever Ready and Mr. Buzzer are very excited… :applause::woohoo:

[Ian David]

18. I wonder what Texas Representative Squeezie McFeelpants has to say about it?

"Oh, my. Pass the batteries, lube me up, tie me down and let 'er rip!"

[AlertLurker]

21. Three lovliest words in the English lexicon for a single gal:

1. Hitachi.
2. Magic.
3. Wand.

4., 5., 6., 7., 8! EEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAOOOOOOAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!


:rofl:

[achtung_circus]

25. give

me a place to stand,
and a place to grow,
and call that land
????

[AlertLurker]

26. You are making my ears bleed!

You have no idea how many times we truly unfortunate Ontarians were subjected to that song over the last four friggin' DECADES.

Every bit as bad as the Expo67 song (One little, two little, three Canadians).

[achtung_circus]

44. Oh, yes I do.

We had to learn it by heart.

And Ca-Na-Da? I tried to buy a hit on Bobby Gimby, bot an 11 year old doesn't have the cash or the connections.

[rasputin1952]

23. So....if the law would have been upheld...

the biggest Texas phony prick of all time, bush, would have to be confiscated?



Someone had to say it...:evilgrin:

[mainer]

29. Haha -- that line was in "Vagina Monologues"

Texas -- a state where you can drive, drink, and carry a shotgun. But you couldn't buy a dildo.

[guitar man]

32. I don't know why Texas had that law to begin with

...I mean, don't they send all their dildos to DC anyway? :rofl:

[Acadia Blue]

33. They sent their tinest Dildo. lol

[guitar man]

36. yeah, he's surely a little prick....nt

[Chovexani]

61. Nah, dildos are actually useful

:rofl:

[kirby]

34. Yet another example of big corporations...

Obviously the battery industry sent their lobbyist in and the court magically reverses the lower court.

Waxman will be holding Dildogate hearings next week.

[MilesColtrane]

38. I'll bet Pickles had a hand in ramming this law through.

She wouldn't want to be doing anything illegal during those future long, lonely nights in Dallas when Bushie's out chasing some strange.

[achtung_circus]

45. Did you have to say "ram"? nt

[MilesColtrane]

49. Yeah, I know.

Bad visual...the Xanax queen with her face scrunched up, a laboring Black & Decker in one hand and a lit Marlboro in the other

[Bake]

40. Mississippi, of course, still has such a ban

And if I recall correctly, it was affirmed by the state Supremes recently.

It figures.

Bake

[Sgent]

54. Not any more

Since MS and TX are both under the 5th circuit, this decision overturns MS's ban as well.

[High Plains]

41. One of my old roommates was busted under this law in the '80s

He worked for Planet K, a chain of head shops in Austin. The cops came in and raided the store and seized dildos and an inflatable sheep and charged Harry with possession of sex toys with the intent to distribute. We all thought it was pretty funny, but Harry wasn't really amused. His store defended him...I'm not sure how it was resolved, but Harry lives in NYC now.

[WillParkinson]

53. Inflatable sheep?

Harry was baaaaaa-d.

[Spoonman]

56. I just can't help myself I must need meds something!

A reply below this put me in a great mood.

Harry ass gets fucked by dildo cops....... man I'm sick!

[HuffleClaw]

42. "...from my cold dead hands' ?

it would be amusing to obtain a full list of those who voted FOR that ridiculous law.

[SomeGuyInEagan]

43. Just in time for St. Valentine's Day ...

If you can't be with the one you love, love the one you're with ... and keep those AAs in stock.

[AnneD]

46. Now THIS....

is the kind of stimulus package we could use here in Texas. A little competition benefits everyone.

Can I get a DUZY-It would fit me nicely-right shape, colour, style, etc.;)

[truebrit71]

47. Too bad the biggest dildo from Texas is in DC right now....

...

[Arugula Latte]

51. Hah! Too true, truebrit71.

:thumbsup:

[Spoonman]

55. Now that's fucking funny!!!!! Thank you, I needed that one today! n/t

[Eurobabe]

50. WWDD? What would Dill Do? n/t

[DuaneBidoux]

57. Funny. I live in Houston and there are porn and sex toy and topless dancing places everywhere.

It has been that way since I moved here in 1989 so I am not sure what the real deal is. Maybe it is enforced locally by some towns in more rural parts of the state but I can tell you that in the bottom of my nightstand are a half dozen various toys that my wife and I use, all bought here in Texas in the last 20 years.

[sarcasmo]

58. Better tell the wife that her double header isn't allowed when we travel, LMFAO.

[triguy46]

59. The entire lounge is vibrating with anticipatory excitement...

its building and building, like the ocean, no a wave, warm wave, building, a wave, rising, peaking peaking building humming building bigger etc.

[rocktivity]

60. CUE THE VONAGE THEME, YOU ALL!

Buying sex toys is your own fucking business (if you'll pardon the expression).

:woohoo:
rocknation

[WritersBlock]

62. What ban? I saw dildos on the shelf in a major national chain store in Midland in the early 80's.

I can't remember for sure what store it was, but I'm pretty sure it started with a W.


They were out in open display as a personal massage aid. For sore shoulders, I guess. Or something.