Anti-pornography bill goes to House floor for debate
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BOISE — Idaho is on its way to declaring pornography a public health hazard.
A bill, with both House and Senate sponsors, declaring the risks of pornography passed the House State Affairs Committee Friday. The House will now debate whether or not to pass it.
Rather than attempting to ban pornography, the bill encourages state and local governments and agencies to “implement policies, procedures and technology to ensure that pornographic materials are not accessible through their internet access.” Which essentially means no pornography on public computers.
The bill, sponsored by Senate President Pro Tempore Brent Hill (R-Rexburg) and Rep. Lance Clow (R-Twin Falls), claims the average age at which children are exposed to pornography is 11 to 12 years old. This, according to the bill, is leading to the “hypersexualization of teens, and even prepubescent children, in our society.”
It also claims pornography depicts rape and abuse as harmless and treats people, including children, as objects normalizing violence and abuse.
As well as calling on state and local agencies to block access to pornography, it urges for education and recovery programs be addressed to help curb the harm pornography has on individuals and families.