That's a touchy subject here on Free Republic and, if you don't mind, I'd like to pursue the subject of smut and porn just a bit further.
If you check my posting history, I'm very proud of Texas -- quick to defend the Lone Star state when attacked or cast in an unfavorable light. I'm a Texan by deliberate choice as opposed to by birth. Since I made a conscious decision to move here more than four decades ago, my pride in all things Texas might even be stronger than those lucky enough to have been born here. So that's some background on where I'm coming from.
As one enters the state on heavily traveled I-35 from the north and crosses the famous Red River, what's the very first thing you see upon entering Texas?
A very garishly lit and tacky-to-the-extreme smut shop. The signs are very prominent and can't be missed touting the "adult" videos available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I cringe when my grandchildren travel with me as when they celebrate our returning to Texas -- but have it marred by a porn outfit just a few hundred yards away from the "Welcome Center" at the state line.
Frankly, I'm conflicted since the porn shop is a legal business and in the spirit of free enterprise, who's to call for them getting shut down? And when I drive past, there are plenty of vehicles in the parking lot -- a lot of long-distance truckers evidently find the place appealing and I surmise it turns a tidy profit. And to your point, "Yes we did get the stores to put it behind the counter and cover the pictures, so our kids wouldn't have to see it every time they visited a store", if nothing else, I'd settle for it moving a few miles south so it not the first impression one gets of our state. But we ain't too big on zonin' around here so the smut palace is probably a permanent fixture.
I've pinged a handful of other well-spoken Texans to get their opinions. Well, sir, I just hope don't get laughed off the forum for being an old fuddy-duddy! :)
The only way I know, the defense bar being as well-greased as it is, to discourage a bunch like that seriously (and all the big outlets are both fronts for prostitution and run by the Vegas Mob -- or so said CBS News 20 years ago, when they described the Mob's decision to push porn in the faces of every citizen of the U.S., in order to get to the young men) is to organize a well-run, very tight marshmallow-roast ring. Or something like that. There's no legal way to fight it any more, courtesy of the liberal Supreme Court justices of the 1960's.
The same problem the poster has with supersmutshops up by Gainesville (I know the place you're talking about), other States and Indian reservations have with big liquor stores and fireworks stands. Coming soon: Drug shops.
You’re not an old fuddy duddy at all and I appreciate your comments. I was born in a dry county in West Texas that had it’s share of bootleggers. I agree with you on the smut merchants. Unseemly for young’ns to see such things when entering the State.
No I agree with you. TN and Nashville have the same problem.
It looks terrible to drive through Nashville on I40 and there’s the Hustler store and several other so-called “adult” night clubs in highly visible locations.