So apparently there’s a group that’s all up in arms over whether or not AAFES stores on military posts should be permitted to sell magazines of a decidedly adult nature. It’s a debate that’s been running off and on for over a decade. Of course, the American Family Association, a Christian anti-pornography group is against pretty much any magazine that might show a little skin. But the rough problem really is defining- what is pornography?

A Former Supreme Court Justice, Potter Stewart once said, “I know it when I see it”. Oh- well that clears that up.

How’s the military defining it?

The Military Honor and Decency Act of 1996 bars stores on military bases from selling “sexually explicit material.” It defines that as film or printed matter “the dominant theme of which depicts or describes nudity” or sexual activities “in a lascivious way.”

Challenged as a First Amendment violation, the law was upheld by a U.S. appeals court in 2002.

“The (Pentagon’s) lawyers … determined that for a magazine to be found lewd and lascivious, a certain percentage of the content would have to fall under that category,” says Steve Sellman, a retired Pentagon official who chaired the resale board in the late 1990s. “We looked to see how much of (a magazine) was articles or advertising that had no sexual content.”

Currently being sold at military installations-

• Andrews Air Force Base: Playboy, Penthouse, Perfect 10, Playboy College Girls, Nude Playmates, FHM, Celebrity Skin, Playboy’s Vixens.
• Edwards Air Force Base: Playboy, Playboy College Girls, FHM, Playboy’s Vixens.
• Fort Bragg: XXX, Playboy College Girls, Perfect 10, Curves, FHM.
• Fort Knox: Playboy, Penthouse, Nude, Perfect 10, Playboy’s Vixens.
• Pearl Harbor: Playboy, Perfect 10.
• Pentagon: FHM
• United States Military Academy: Perfect 10, Playboy Lingerie, Hot Shots 2007 by Playboy, Playmates in Bed
• United States Air Force Academy: Playboy, Lingerie, Playboy’s Vixens, Playboy’s College Girls, Nude, Perfect 10, Curves
• Naval Air Station Pensacola: DVD titles: “Blonde and Beyond,” “Sex Symbols,” “Wet,” “Import Skin,” “Girls Night In”

Ok, so pretty much there’s 12 different variations on Playboy…and FHM? I’ve seen more skin in Vanity Fair. Seriously, there was an issue with 2 naked actresses on the cover- and a fair number more inside.

Of course- there’s plenty of views on the issue- let’s hear from some others…

Defense officials “don’t want to take porn away from soldiers,” says Patrick Trueman, a former federal prosecutor who now works with the Alliance Defense Fund, a Christian legal group. “They say, ‘Well, 40% of this magazine is sexually explicit pictures, but 60% is writing or advertising, so the totality is not sexually explicit.’ That’s ridiculous.”

Define “sexually explicit”. I’d dare go out on a limb nary one of those magazines that have gone on the rack contains penetration or vulgar sex acts. It’s pretty much just naked women. Or in the case of FHM- scantily clad ones. Is a naked body “sexually explicit”?

Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, R-Md., who sponsored the law, says the military is skirting Congress’ intent. He notes the material also could contribute to a hostile environment for female military personnel. “If soldiers want to read that stuff, they can walk down the street and buy it somewhere else,” Bartlett says. “I don’t want (the military) to help.”

Roscoe my man- how many military posts have you been to? Because most of them, you walk down the street and you’re in the middle of nowhere. You’re lucky if there’s a Wal-Mart that’s a 20 minute DRIVE away. Let alone walking down the street.

Nadine Strossen, a New York University law professor who heads the American Civil Liberties Union, says the law effectively censors what troops get to read in remote areas or combat zones. “We’re asking these people to risk their lives to defend our Constitution’s principles … and they’re being denied their own First Amendment rights to choose what they read,” she said.

I agree with her… though- as I’ve been told by a Sgt. Major or two in my time- “The Army is not Democracy- you gave up your rights when you signed your name on the dotted line.” So I guess we’ll see whether the military decides to bend to the will of the offended minority, or the pretty much indifferent majority.

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