[antiRepublicrat]

There is no way that there were 1.5 million illegal coathanger abortions per year when it was illegal.

Possible, but back then how many of those resulted in serious physical damage or death to the mother? But the issues don't equate since in abortion there is one very clear direct victim -- the child.

I know that making it stop is impossible but condoning it only expands it by orders of magnitude.

Prohibition didn't slow alcohol abuse. For one, it increased underage drinking, which went down below pre-prohibition levels after repeal. Alcoholism was high during the war (a normal thing), and dropped afterwards, rising again during prohibition and dropping after repeal. Expenditure on distilled spirits rose sharply during prohibition, and dropped down to their previous levels after repeal. History does not support your assumption.

[Modernman]

Another point to remember is that, if the US banned porn, such a ban would be imposible to enforce without massive government intrusiveness. With the internet, porn could be easily transmitted from anywhere in the world. Unlike liquor, there is no physical way to interdict porn. Government would be faced with either a totally meaningless ban, or be required to monitor everyone's internet usage.

Of course, I also think you would have a very hard time finding juries willing to convict people for violating such a law. I know I would certainly refuse to convict someone for looking at dirty movies.

[biblewonk]

Prohibition can not be shown to have increased drinking. However, it was an anti-biblical thing to do and was doomed to failure. Jesus turned water into wine. Drinking wine, or similar drinks, is not a sin. Being a drunk and putting people in danger is though. Banning all drink would be like banning all sex because there are so many aberations on the basic and good theme.