Utah lawmaker and Republican Senator Todd Weiler, has filed a bill last week declaring pornography as an epidemic which harms not only the citizens of Utah but the whole nation. He also said that it is a public hazard and that education and policy changes should be made so at the bill to work.
In a report by TIME, the bill urges education and policy changes to stop citizens from being exposed and addicted to pornography as it results to hypersexualization of teens, prostitution and cheating spouses. He also pointed out that pornography is one of the factors why young men's desire to marry is lessened; there is dissatisfaction in marriage; and eventually infidelity.
Weiler added in the bill that pornography also treats women as objects and commodities pointing out that boys learn to be users while girls learn that they are to be used, FOX reported. Weiler added, "Pornography normalizes violence and abuse of women and children; WHEREAS, pornography treats women and children as objects and often depicts rape and abuse as if they are harmless."
When interviewed by the media, the politician also said that pornography was more addictive than the most powerful drugs in the world and the public needs to start seeing that adult films are not a form of entertainment but a national epidemic, New York Daily News reported. Weiler pointed out that he has read books and talked to experts supporting his claim about pornography being more addictive.
He pointed the advances in technology as to why pornography has become easily accessible most especially for children. The average age of exposure to pornography as per the bill is said to be 11 years old. The 48-year-old has been facing backlash with his proposal but his resolution is said to be "based on hard facts" comparing it to global warming.
Weiler added, "My resolution does not deal with masturbation, I think that's beyond the scope of what I'm doing. We're not going to outlaw masturbation in Utah."
Utah has been plagued with problems related to pornography as it is the number one buyer of adult films back in 2009. This is based on a research by Harvard Business School professor Benjamin Edelman.
