The Unintended Consequences of Legislating Morality
Pete Ashdown and XMission will be forced to shut down the free wi-fi system XMission has basically donated to downtown SLC if Rep Daw’s HB139 is passed. HB139 introduces civil penalties if a minor is able to access any pronogrphy over public wireless internet.
We need fewer efforts on the part of legislators like Rep. Daw to protect us from pornography and more action aimed at making sure families have the tools to ensure their families can safely use the internet. XMission has done an awesome job at this. Check out Pete Ashdown’s statement in response to Rep. Daw’s lack of foresight.
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Jeremy, can’t we pass a law that levies civil penalties on legislators who fail to meet limited mental competency standards?
Comment by WP — January 25, 2008 @ 4:43 pm
Wow…what a great idea! Do you think Rep. Daw could be talked into sponsoring your idea even though he’d be liable for damages?
Comment by Jeremy Manning — January 26, 2008 @ 6:42 am
[…] Jeremy describes this as the unintended consequences of legislating morality. He is exactly correct. And the unintended consequences are very large because this bill would impose civil penalties on anyone who has a wireless access point which a minor uses to access porn. If a minor uses the internet in a hotel lobby to access a pornographic picture–$1000 fine. If a minor accesses “harmful material” at restaurant, at a library, at a cafe, at a truck stop, or outside someone’s house–$1000 fine per violation. […]
Pingback by Utah Legislator Seeks to Ban All Open Wireless Connections — January 26, 2008 @ 10:06 am