The local war on porn continues
A revised definition of what constitutes an adult business was unveiled Tuesday night as Knoxville City Council members unanimously approved a 90-day moratorium on any new such operations.
The moratorium offers a “numerical standard,” explained city Law Director Morris Kizer, to help classify adult bookstores and video stores on a percentage basis of their merchandise, floor space and revenues associated with sexually oriented material.
The suspension, approved without discussion, also covers any business that regularly features sexually oriented material, prohibits access to minors and advertises “adult, XXX, X-rated, erotic, sexual, pornographic or similar material.”
Council members could soon consider the numerical standard as an amendment to the city’s ordinance regulating adult bookstores and video stores.
The council enacted a new, sweeping set of regulations in May governing the licensing, hours of operation, location and practices of adult entertainment businesses.
The proposed amendment would replace the city’s previous wording, which was struck down after a lengthy court battle with the former Fantasy Video. In that case, the state Supreme Court ruled the city’s earlier definition “void for vagueness.”
They’re holding off implementing any new standards until the lawsuit is concluded. Now, make no mistake about it, the city is trying to shut down the adult stores (they’re also trying to shut down tittie bars) when the real solution is, if it offends you, don’t go there.
