Difference between revisions of "Anthony Comstock"
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| − | '''Anthony Comstock''' was the first | + | '''Anthony Comstock''' (1844-1915) was a campaigner for moral standards whose efforts brought about the first federal laws to combat the pornography trade. |
| − | + | Comstocjk was born in [[Connecticut]], and fought for the [[Union]] in the [[American Civil War]]. Saddened by the irreverent and lascivious speech and attitudes of his fellow soldiers, he made his first attempts to reform their behaviour, with some success. After demobilisation, he settled in [[New York City]], where, in 1873, he founded the [[New York Society for the Suppression of Vice]]. Also in 1873, he was successful in pressing congress to enact legislation (known as the 'Comstock Law') making it illegal to send "obscene, lewd or lascivious" items in the mail, with penalties up to ten years in prison. This included any information on birth control or [[abortion]]. Comstock was appointed Special Agent for the [[US Post Office]] with powers to enfiorce the new law, powers which he used wisely and energetically. Over the next forty-two years, he was responsible for the gaoling of 3,600 pornographers, while a huge quantity of pornographic material, indecent articles and abortofacients were seized and destroyed. In one year alone, 14,200 lb or pornographic photographic plates, 134,000 lb ofpornographic books, 200,000 photographs and images, 31,500 boxes of pills and potions, and 60,300 obscene articles were destroyed<ref>Bill Bryson, Made in America (London 1994) pp371-374</ref>. It is estimated that fifteen tons of pornographic books and publications, and four million photographs, were destroyed as a result of his labours. | |
| − | + | Comstock was an influence on [[J. Edgar Hoover]], who as a young law student researched Comstock's methods of work. | |
| − | In | + | In an age when decent people are subjected to rising tides of filth through the mass media and internet, and when [[Hollywood values]] spread their indsidious taint around the globe, [[America]] and the world needs a new Anthony Comstock. |
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== Quotes == | == Quotes == | ||
[*]''"No sect nor class has ever publicly sided with the smut dealer, except the Infidels, the Liberals and the Free-lovers"'' | [*]''"No sect nor class has ever publicly sided with the smut dealer, except the Infidels, the Liberals and the Free-lovers"'' | ||
| − | + | ==References== | |
| + | </references> | ||
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[[Category:United States Law]] | [[Category:United States Law]] | ||
Revision as of 09:32, August 21, 2008
Anthony Comstock (1844-1915) was a campaigner for moral standards whose efforts brought about the first federal laws to combat the pornography trade.
Comstocjk was born in Connecticut, and fought for the Union in the American Civil War. Saddened by the irreverent and lascivious speech and attitudes of his fellow soldiers, he made his first attempts to reform their behaviour, with some success. After demobilisation, he settled in New York City, where, in 1873, he founded the New York Society for the Suppression of Vice. Also in 1873, he was successful in pressing congress to enact legislation (known as the 'Comstock Law') making it illegal to send "obscene, lewd or lascivious" items in the mail, with penalties up to ten years in prison. This included any information on birth control or abortion. Comstock was appointed Special Agent for the US Post Office with powers to enfiorce the new law, powers which he used wisely and energetically. Over the next forty-two years, he was responsible for the gaoling of 3,600 pornographers, while a huge quantity of pornographic material, indecent articles and abortofacients were seized and destroyed. In one year alone, 14,200 lb or pornographic photographic plates, 134,000 lb ofpornographic books, 200,000 photographs and images, 31,500 boxes of pills and potions, and 60,300 obscene articles were destroyed[1]. It is estimated that fifteen tons of pornographic books and publications, and four million photographs, were destroyed as a result of his labours.
Comstock was an influence on J. Edgar Hoover, who as a young law student researched Comstock's methods of work.
In an age when decent people are subjected to rising tides of filth through the mass media and internet, and when Hollywood values spread their indsidious taint around the globe, America and the world needs a new Anthony Comstock.
Quotes
[*]"No sect nor class has ever publicly sided with the smut dealer, except the Infidels, the Liberals and the Free-lovers"
References
</references>
- ↑ Bill Bryson, Made in America (London 1994) pp371-374