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Mother Protests Texas Law That Allows Children to See Pornography
Filed under: In The News, Weird But True
A father in Texas allegedly forced his 8- and 9-year-old daughters to watch hardcore online pornography. That's not against the law in the Lone Star State.
The girls' mother thinks it ought to be.
She is protesting a law passed by the Texas Legislature in the 1970s that allows parents to show children "harmful material." The law was intended to protect parents using graphic material to teach their children about sex.
"I understand in the '70s everybody wanted the government to stay out of their homes," Crystal Buckner tells The Associated Press. "I don't want to stop parents from having that right to teach sex education, but there's a big difference, and there's a line you shouldn't cross when teaching."
Buckner's ex-husband is not charged with a crime, but he is accused of forcing the girls to watch adults having hardcore group sex on the Internet. Unable to get criminal charges filed against him, Buckner has mounted a public crusade to get the law changed.
Buckner tells the AP that she learned about what her ex-husband did after one of her daughters talked about it with a counselor in June. Her ex-husband still has visitation rights with the girls once a month. However, given the allegations, officials at the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services have exercised their authority to require the visits be supervised.
State Sen. Bob Deuell, R-Greenville, vows to take Buckner's crusade to the Legislature. He tells the AP that he hopes to see the law changed in the 2011 Legislature.
Meanwhile, Randall County District Attorney James Farren has asked Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott to review the law to judge the exact size of the loophole it gives parents who may have more sinister agendas than education.
Farren doesn't see much hope outside the Legislature. The law is the law, he tells the AP. For now, it provides cover for the wrong people.
"I don't think that's what the legislators intended, but it's the result," he tells the news service. "If our interpretation is wrong, that'd be great. It's fine. We'd love to go ahead and prosecute."
What do you think? Does the law open the door for children to be exposed to pornography? Or is this an isolated incident that threatens people's privacy and how they teach their children about sex?
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 3)
11-18-2009 @ 4:25PM
Elizabeth said...I have to say I'm very conflicted about this. I mean, "harmful material" is one of those very non-specific terms that could mean pornography, but could also mean movies such as Red Asphalt (those movies that show graphic scenes of real-life car crashes to show the consequences of reckless driving). That being said, why would you FORCE your children to watch pornography? I don't necessarily think they should be encouraged to watch it, nor should they be banned from watching it entirely (at appropriate ages of course) but to force them? There are better ways to teach your kids about sex without showing them porn.
If they do change the law, it needs to be specifically worded, ie, children shall not watch movies depicting hardcore sexual acts without written permission from both parents, otherwise people who object to movies like Red Asphalt, or even violent movies could use the law to further their own agendas.
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11-19-2009 @ 12:10AM
Kellar1008 said...My goodness people. There is nothing wrong with consenting adults watching porn. The Porn industry is an ADULT industry. I for one think that man should go to jail for what he did. Children should not be taught anything with those type of things. They should be taught the right way with books and good old fashon talks about sex. What that man did was wrong but my goodness don't blame porn. Blame the person sick enough to make the children watch it. This all comes down to the responsibilities of adults to make sure children are not exposed to these type of things. Porn is here to stay people, whether we like it or not, so get used to it. You may not like it and I may not like it, but that is the way things are.
11-19-2009 @ 2:07AM
karen said...Shame on him , this should never be seen to kids, they should be talked with at the correct age .. and there is to many children in this world that is rape by adults and to many predator hurting kids and some times they are fathers, uncles friends , mothers even grandpa
so people talk to your kids and tell them no one has the right to make you do sex acts or watch them and no one has the right to touch your private parts of there body.and making children watch such things that they may learn the wrong thing about sex, there is a difference in love sex , and raw bad sex movies,that is so wrong on so many levels.
11-21-2009 @ 7:19PM
dena said...Are you crazy? You're saying it's ok for young children to watch porn as long as there is permission from both parents? There is no reason or justification for parents to allow their children to watch the smut or anything that is uneducational. It shouldn't depict real people having sex. It should only inform about the different parts of the body regarding puberty and reproductive functions and so forth. Not the actual sex act. No wonder kids grow up thinking it's ok to have sex at 11 and 12 years old. That is the problem with radical liberalism in schools. Hell, one county was teaching, with video demonstration to 12 year olds how to 'fist.' Dumbing down America starts in the schools and follows throughout their lives. Parents who allow their children to do what they please or teach them things that their youthful mentalities cannot process should have those kids taken away from them. Physical abuse isn't the only abuse.
11-21-2009 @ 7:32PM
Elizabeth said...Dena, you've just proven my point about specifically wording this law, should it come to fruition. When I said children, perhaps I should have said minors, and anyway, it was just an EXAMPLE, for goodness sake--that's what ie means. Of course I do not think it is okay for a 10-year-old child to watch pornography, but I think it's even worse for a 15-year-old to be going out and having sex. I'd rather a 15-year-old watch pornography and masturbate than go out and risk an unwanted pregnancy or disease. And if the parents allow this (with regard to the 15 year old, since it seems you need everything explained), then I do not think there is anything wrong with that, if it is the youth's wish. I do, however, feel that it is wrong to make a child watch something they do not want to, especially pornography.
11-18-2009 @ 8:13PM
Terri said...PORNOGRAPHY VICTIMIZES WOMEN AND CHILDREN. IT DOES THIS BY OBJECTIFYING THEM. YOU CAN'T RESPECT AN OBJECT. PORN IS NOT A "VICTIMLESS CRIME" IT IS THE NUMBER ONE TOOL PREDATERS USE IN THE SEDUCTION OF CHILDREN.
THERE IS A STRONG CONNECTION BETWEEN PORN USE AND ADULTERY.
PORN IS SEXUALLY DEMORALIZING, AND DEGRADING. THERE IS LITTLE LOVE OR RESPECT INVOLVED. PORN ALSO PUTS SICK, UNNATURAL PRESSURE ON WOMEN. IT DISTORTS WOMEN'S SEXUALITY AND IS DAMAGEING TO THE ESTEEM. MORE YOUNG GIRLS GROW INCREASING UNHAPPY WITH THEIR BODIES AS THE UNNATURAL, SURGERY ENHANCED, AIRBRUSHED PORN SPREADS. (RISE IN VAGINAL SURGERIES TO PLEASE MEN) WE ARE ALL TOLD THAT IT IS NATURAL FOR MEN TO VIEW PORN. THIS IS A LIE. IT IS LIKE SAYING IT IS NATURAL FOR PEOPLE TO BECOME ALCOHOLICS. THERE IS NOTHING NATURAL ABOUT PORN. MEN DO NOT NEED IT. THAT IS A MYTH. FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS, MEN PURSUED WOMEN AND SENT THEM LOVE POETRY. TODAYS MAN EXPECTS SICK SEX ACTS FROM A WOMAN, AND THEY WANT US TO SLEEP WITH OUR SISTER. I FEEL THERE HAS BEEN A DIRECT CORRELATION BETWEEN THE LACK OF RESPECT AND THE RISE OF PORN. WOMEN WHO PARTAKE IN PORN, : YOU ARE YOUR OWN (AND WOMENKIND'S) WORSE ENEMY.
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11-18-2009 @ 8:40PM
moderate said...Wow, who hurt you? Not being sarcastic, you really need help. That much anger and absolutes is keeping you unhealthy.
11-18-2009 @ 9:48PM
Luna said...Right on! I absolutley, completley agree! Its about time that someone said it just exactly the way you did.
11-18-2009 @ 10:51PM
Margaret said...Outstanding Terri! Thanks for putting the truth out there.
11-18-2009 @ 11:40PM
Elizabeth said...Okay, first of all, the only "victims" in porn are the people desperate enough to pay to see people having sex. If the market wasn't there, no one would be making porn. Secondly, women in porn actually have more power than people give them credit for. Women can say what sexual acts they will or will not do/allow to be filmed. No one is forced to do anything they do not want to do. This is actually one industry where women are paid more than men, because there are very few women in the industry. Thirdly, there IS love in porn. There is porn for all kinds, and yes, there are some movies that specifically are made for married couples in love and show just that--there is more emphasis on making love rather than fornicating. There is kissing, cuddling, and lots of "I love yous." Fourthly, not every woman in porn is a sexually enhanced bimbo. There are all kinds of women in pornography with all kinds of body types and flaws. Fifthly, the porn industry is very heavily regulated, especially here in California. Identification is required and throughly checked. Regular medical testing is required and verified, and condoms are mandatory (you can tell if a movie was made after 1996 because of this). No one in porn is FORCED. The release that people sign before performing in a movie specifically says they are doing this of their own free will, without the influence of drugs or alcohol, and are of age.
Perhaps if you actually researched this, you would have a better understanding and not sound so ignorant of what you condemn.
11-19-2009 @ 2:05PM
mark young said...Terri, Don't yell, I'm right here. Check your caps lock, please.
6-18-2010 @ 10:41PM
Aleta Palmer said...Terri,
GOD creator of the Universe, God/Lord Jesus Christ Of Nazareth, and The Angels in Heaven and I agree with you 100%.
Dear GOD,
In then name of Jesus I pray and
In Jesus' name I pray
Have The United States Of America's Government ammend the United States Of America's Constitution to PROHIBIT ALL pornography FOREVER.
In GOD, God/Jesus, and The Angel's names I pray.
At 4 years old, my child Dylan Shore Palmer was forced to sodomize an animal or human and they filmed the incident. I REPEAT EMPHATICALLY "GOD HATES PORN!!!!!!!!!!!"
11-19-2009 @ 5:56PM
benny said...Of course girls eventually need sex education. That's what older and wiser women are for. Maybe that dad didn't have "weird" intentions. But at least I nearly must believe he is obsessed with some weird sexual ideals. You can bet any reasonable family members will watch that "dad" closely as they SHOULD. If GOD wanted to hide sexuality from youngsters, HE would have put clothing on animals. If GOD wanted people to behave like animals, HE would not have clothed Adam and Eve. Animal sex drives are ruled by hormones. Human sex drives must be ruled by self-discipline. Any law, no matter how carefully worded, will have to draw a line between right and wrong which is a moral-religious issue. This nation and that dad need to obey GOD'S word.
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11-19-2009 @ 5:43PM
Sister said...benny, sweetheart, god didn't clothe adam and eve. they clothed themselves after eating from the tree of knowledge.
11-19-2009 @ 1:02AM
Jeff said...please refrain from bible thumping thats fine you believe in that i respect that but dont go pushing it down other ppls throats and that dad...i dont even know wat to say disturbing ,disgusting and terrible on so many levels words dont come close to describing what he did wrong...i mean 8 and 9!! WTF!! what is this world coming to.....and the whole debate about porn im on the fence i can see both sides of the argument
11-19-2009 @ 3:42AM
Mary W. said...Umm, he showed his pre-teens a GANG BANG on the internet. Yeah, I am fairly certain his intentions were "weird" to say the least!
11-19-2009 @ 4:03PM
Brittany said...umm fyi, god didnt clothe adam and eve. they clothed themselves after they took a bite from the forbidden fruit. why dont you go read your bible some more before trying to teach it.
11-19-2009 @ 5:52PM
mtlbstrd said...Yea Brittany, perhaps you should follow your own advice. You were in fact, only partially correct. In Genesis 3:7 they sewed fig leaves together to make coverings; fast forward to vs. 21 and you'll see that God used animal skins to make clothes for them.
11-19-2009 @ 7:06PM
schmuckly said...Brittany and Sister, read Genesis 3:21.
11-18-2009 @ 9:27PM
Phoenix said...The law should be amended to allow authorities to investigate a potential abuse case such as this, but forbid investigation when the claim is exaggerated which would of course, depend upon the material the children were allowed to view and, if or not they were forced to view graphic pornography. Me, I'm old fashioned and taught my girls the way my parents taught me when I became old enough to be seriously curious and the three of them so far have turned out fine.
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