The great repeal act (8)

http://www.libdems.org.uk/campaigns/campaign.htm...

"I learned what every dreaming child needs to know - no horizon is so far that you cannot see above or beyond it." ~ Beryl Markham (first pilot to cross the Atlantic solo the hard way - East to West)

we don't need no education,
we don't need no thought control!

My suggestion has been entered as follows:-

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The Obscene Publications Act (OPA) 1959. The OPA, as amended, says that an article shall be deemed to be obscene if its effect, when taken as a whole, is such as to tend to deprave and corrupt persons who are likely to read, see or hear it.

Modern methods of communication - including the internet have rendered the whole concept of censorship redundant as far as adults are concerned. The OPA was introduced as a result of pressure from a section of society who held a puritannical fear that exposure to certain material would 'deprave and corrupt persons who are likely to read, see or hear it' and the whole of society would fall.

Firstly, there is no evidence to back up the 'deprave and corrupt' hypothesis - despite many attempts to find some over the last 60 years or so.

Secondly, the social experiment has already taken place via the internet over the last 15 years. Virtually everything is available 'on-line' and there have been no significant social trend deviations in adult behaviour that could be attributed to the 'exposure' to such material.

"No conduct should be suppressed by law unless it can be shown to harm someone" (John Stuart Mill)

"The criminal law exists to prevent harm, to protect individual citizens and society itself from damaging behaviour and influences. Its function is not to impose the preferences of one section of society upon others unless there is clear evidence that damage may otherwise be caused." (Hansard 18 Dec 1996 : Column 1606)

It is high time government stopped wasting public money by paying Police Officers et al., to look at mucky pictures and diverted those resourses back into the business of real crime. The OPA is no longer relevent in the 21st Century. Adults are quite capable of self censorship if the need arises.

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Laurence

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http://www.lightamillioncandles.com/
http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/cgi-bin/WebOb...

A very interesting debate Laurence. Thanks for bringing it's existence to my attention.

BT

The pleasure is to play,it makes no difference what you say...

"Other men have seen angels, But I have seen thee, And thou art enough." - G.More
Light Your Candle <----- A beautiful idea

me too

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