Utah Governor Gary R. Herbert on Tuesday signed a resolution that declares pornography is an "epidemic" which is creating a "public health crisis" in the state.
In a report by Time, the legislation calls for education and policy changes that will stop people's pornography exposure and addiction. The resolution blames pornography as the reason for the hypersexualization of teenagers, prostitution, and cheating spouses. It also claims that pornography normalizes violence and abuse of women and children.
Herbert shared in a statement during the signing that "this is a bold assertion and there are some out there who will disagree with us." The governor continued to say that it is "in fact, the full-fledged truth."
The legislation was sponsored by Republican Senator Todd Weiler, ABC News reported. He called pornography as an epidemic that is harming the citizens of Utah and the nation as a whole. The senator also said that pornography use is linked to lessening desire in young men to marry, their dissatisfaction in marriage, and the reason for infidelity.
Supporters of the resolution praised the signing as they compared the dangers of pornography to the effects of smoking. Dawn Hawkins, executive director of the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, said in a statement, that she believes pornography will follow the trend of the tobacco industry adding that it is "pervasive and popular, similar to smoking in the 1950s, but as the harms become apparent."
NBC News also reported that Hebert signed another legislation requiring computer technicians to report child pornography. If the technician fails to report someone who has child pornography in their computer, it is considered a misdemeanor and is punishable by up to six months in prison.
Utah is one of the most conservative states in the U.S. but according to a Harvard Business School report that was published in 2009, the state is also the number one buyer of porn films.
