Senate Concurrent Resolution 517

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION DECLARING THE LEGISLATIVE POLICY THAT PORNOGRAPHY IS A PUBLIC HEALTH HAZARD AND RECOGNIZING THE NEED FOR EDUCATION, PREVENTION AND RESEARCH.

WHEREAS, each day, countless people are exposed to sexually explicit content through a wide range of media, and these consumers are often unaware of the health risks posed by such material; and

WHEREAS, pornography is a public health hazard leading to a broad spectrum of individual and public health impacts and societal harms; and

WHEREAS, due to advances in technology and the universal availability of the Internet, young children are exposed to what used to be referred to as hard core, but is now considered mainstream, pornography at an alarming rate; and

WHEREAS, this early exposure is leading to low self-esteem and body image disorders, an increase in problematic sexual activity at younger ages, and an increased desire to engage in risky sexual behavior; and

WHEREAS, besides promoting unhealthy sexual expectations, pornography objectifies women and children as well as depicting rape and abuse as if they were harmless; by associating violence with sexual gratification, these materials perpetuate the demand for sex trafficking, prostitution, sexual abuse images, and child pornography; and

WHEREAS, recent research indicates that pornography is potentially biologically addictive, which means the user requires more novelty, often in the form of more shocking material, in order to be satisfied; and

WHEREAS, this biological addiction leads to increasing themes of risky sexual behaviors, extreme degradation, violence, and child sexual abuse images and child pornography; and

WHEREAS, pornography has also been linked to the inability to form and maintain intimate relationships, these dangers not only affect people on an individual level but also contribute to the degradation of the family unit, frequently leading to marital dissatisfaction and infidelity; and

WHEREAS, the ubiquity of pornography has resulted in a host of societal problems and potentially negative health effects, and it is of paramount importance that our leaders tackle this critical public health issue:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That the Legislature hereby recognizes that pornography is a public health hazard.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Legislature recognizes the need for education, prevention, research and policy changes to address the harmful influence and consequences of pornography.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be transmitted to the State Board of Health and the State Board of Education for appropriate action and recommendation to the Legislature at the 2019 Regular Session.