Howard County wants to be free of porn
by Lori Barrett | June 30, 2008 at 7:03 am
Posted in baltimore politics
Howard County officials are trying once again to close the county’s only adult bookstore, the Pack Shack. (Maybe they should just try for a name change instead?)
The fight has lasted eleven years so far. Now, the Pack Shack has made one final move to ensure they’ll remain in Ellicott City for a long time: the adult bookstore is actually selling books.
Howard County first passed legislation in 1997 that barred adult stores from operating within 500 feet of schools, churches, parks, or homes. Although the Pack Shack lies 165 feet from an apartment complex, it has prevailed thanks to the Maryland Court of Appeals, which ruled in 2003 that the zoning changes against adult bookstores were unconstitutional.
The battle against the Pack Shack has persisted, however. So in response, the store’s owners have filled the entranceway and basement full of used books. The books will likely never be sold, but the new nonsexual inventory now puts the Pack Shack in compliance with the zoning law, much to the dismay of some Howard County residents.
Said one local pastor of the Pack Shack: “They sort of wear people down, continue to grind away. Pornography is a major destroyer of marriages in Howard County.”
So what do you think? Should the Pack Shack be put out of business? Or is Howard County trying to create a utopia?
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June 30th, 2008 at 2:00 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
Although I understand that the "local pastor" is just towing the party line, have you ever heard a more ridiculous statement? Pornography, the major destroyer of marriage in Howard County. Seriously? So is this unfortunate trend unique to Howard County, or should we expect a ripple effect into Anne Arundel County? If we pray hard enough, can we be spared?
People like this only contribute to people feeling shameful about the very normal topics of sex and sexuality. There's a really good reason Porn is one of the most lucrative industries. We like sex. We have sex. A lot. And not always with the goal of reproduction...in fact for some of us, it's an unwelcome byproduct.
It's time for the "good people" of Howard County to shut-up already. The Pack Shack is offering products that are clearly in demand by the local community. Stop trying to legislate Catholic guilt.
Oh and yeah, the Pack Shack should seriously consider changing the name.
!
June 30th, 2008 at 2:35 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
Now what's wrong with that name?
July 1st, 2008 at 1:07 am | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
YCKTR, I have to say: well put. The pastor has made the mistake of confusing religion with morality (again), and trying to legislate such a narrow POV may be well-intentioned, but misguided and most likely will fail. Plus, he sounds like a moron.
'Woody's Books & Mags' would be a better name.