Nutters opposed to strip clubs, adult stores and other sexually oriented businesses in Kansas are starting another push for more state restrictions.
A Kansas House committee opened hearings on legislation to keep new sexually oriented businesses
at least 1,000 feet away from any similar business or from a school, library, day care center or house of worship.
Supporters claim that such businesses lower property values and cause problems such as crime, especially if they're clustered
together.
The House passed a similar bill last year, but it died in the Senate on a 20-20 vote.
Update: Community Offence Act
19th February 2011. See
article from ksnt.com
The Kansas bill to place repressive restriction son adult businesses has been accepted by the House Federal and State Affairs Committee.
The proposed Community Defense Act would mean no nude dancers and no alcohol in sexually oriented
businesses.
The act would also limit business hours by forcing them to close early at midnight.
But the biggest problem for strip clubs would be the requirement that semi-nude dancers stay at least six feet away from their customers.
Owner Irvin Metz says: They work on tips only. How are they going to even get a tip if they've got to stay six feet away? What, are they going to throw them a dollar, or what?
Update: Just as similar restrictions are
declared unconstitutional in Maryland
19th February 2011. See article from xbiz.com
A federal appeals panel has ruled that Maryland can't ban the mix of alcohol and adult entertainment, as well as certain simulated sexual acts.
The decision by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upholds a federal judge's injunction against unconstitutionally overbroad
strip club regulations there.
We conclude that the statute --- which limits the range of permissible conduct, attire, and entertainment at establishments licensed to serve alcoholic beverages --- prohibits a broad swath of expression
protected by the 1st Amendment and is not susceptible to a limiting construction, 4th Circuit Judge James Wynn wrote for the court. Accordingly, we affirm the permanent injunction prohibiting enforcement of the statute.
Maryland amended
its laws to outlaw nude servers and hostesses, sexual attire simulating erogenous areas and sexual touching in venues licensed to serve alcohol. The new regulations were supposed to take effect in October 2005. Further, nude entertainers would also be
prohibited under the law from being within six feet of customers.