Community Defense Act (CDA) in Ohio

Much of this article was borrowed or based on a website presentation of the Ohio-based Citizens for Community Values, which was instrumental in developing Ohio Senate Bill 16, the Community Defense Act. This proposed legislation is important - because it affects the physical and spiritual welfare of our families and our communities. Like legalizing additional forms of gambling, such as casinos and slots, there is much more harm than good that results to society as a whole when such businesses are allowed to exist. Gambling and sexually oriented businesses (SOBs) both work against traditional families.

Wherever sexually oriented businesses are found - strip clubs, adult bookstores and the like - an increase in crime is sure to occur. Heading the list of crimes which sexually oriented businesses attract include violent sexual crimes, prostitution, and dealing of illegal drugs. The damage to our families goes deeper than any increase in crimes and corresponding decline in property values. It goes to the very heart of families. Less well documented, perhaps, but undeniable, are the adverse effects that these businesses have on the marriages, families and individual lives of those who frequent them.

The Community Defense Act (CDA) would place two straightforward regulations on all sexually oriented businesses (SOBs) in Ohio on a uniform, consistent basis. One would limit the hours of operation, requiring that they close between Midnight and 6:00 am, the times that government studies show most of the crimes linked to these businesses occur. The other would require that a distance be kept between nude employees and their patrons, putting an end to so-called "lap dances," a form of prostitution that is commonplace in most nude strip clubs. These two regulations, applied consistently throughout the state, would go so far in limiting the damage inflicted on our families and communities through sex businesses.

The effort demonstrated to Ohio legislators how important that CCV and others felt that these two regulations were to families. They made use of a rarely-used Constitutional provision that allows citizens - concerned voters - to sponsor a bill. By collecting over 220,000 signatures on a petition approved by the Attorney General, CCV was able to present CDA to the Ohio Senate and the House of Representatives on January 2, 2007 the first session day of the 127th General Assembly. This initiative petition process allows the General Assembly four months in which to act on the proposed legislation. CDA must be passed by both the Senate and the House by May 2, 2007.

At this time, thanks to committed leadership, CDA seems to be progressing through the Senate at a pace consistent with that May 2 deadline. CCV is very concerned, however, about passage of CDA by the Ohio House of Representatives. Although received on the very same day, CDA has yet to be assigned to a committee in the House for consideration - the first step in the process toward passage. Getting CDA through the House by that May 2 deadline can still be accomplished - but only if leadership in that chamber makes passage of CDA a priority and takes extraordinary action.

If CDA has not been passed into law by May 2, CCV will be forced to collect a second round of signatures in a very short time frame in order to place the bill on a ballot for vote. That is a costly and difficult procedure.

TAKE ACTION

Please click here to easily link to contact both the Speaker of the House, Jon Husted, and the representative from your district, in order to emphasize to them how important this family legislation is to you, and to encourage them to do everything within their power to pass CDA into law by the May 2 deadline.