This was posted at www.idealink.org, but I think it is important...

[Adrian_Hickman]

...to all video retailers. It was posted by Nolan Anaya.

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Hey All,

There is a fine Video Retailer in Overland Park Kansas who is facing a very difficult situation. His name is Steve Wolverton and his store is Hollywood at Home. A Grand Jury in Johnson County, KS was seated this summer to look into the definition of obscenity. On September 26th they hand down 4 indictments against Steve’s store for renting Adult movies. There are 4 other retailers’ who also got indictments: 1 is a book store selling Adult magazines, 1 is a Halloween costume store (who had Adult costumes in full sight) and the last is an Adult store.

Take a look at this article about the guy going after Steve:

http://www.kansascity.com/news/columnists/mike_hendricks/story/294206.html

He is personally facing a $20,000 lawyer bill to fight this, which with any hope, he will win and this whole thing ends here. If he loses, the group that is pushing this will try to go after other stores in other states. THIS COULD BE ANY OF US.

I spoke to Steve this morning and while asking for help was very hard for him, he said that any and all financial help at this point would be greatly appreciated. I have sent Steve $100 and was hoping that other retailers would feel the same as I do and would send a check (of any size) to him for his legal bill.

Here is his info:

Steve Wolverton
Hollywood at Home
9063 Metcalf Avenue
Overland Park, Kansas 66212

Bottom Line: This can happen to any of us and could you survive a $20,000 hit just to protect your right to rent movies?


So Please send Steve your support (which does not have to be big) to help him fight the fight for all of us.


Thanks in advance,

Nolan
Captain Video
VP NEBG
And a proud Independent Video Retailer

[thevideostrip]

This is going to be wordy but I have a point why even the NON-adult rental stores SHOULD BE WORRIED!

He went after a shop that carried outfits for Halloween, because they were within view of children. Now given these are probably the naughty schoolgirl look, or sexy vampire we see just about everywhere I take it these were legal outfits that didn't show nudity obviously. So its okay to wear it down the street but hide the outfit because they can see the material. Makes sense to me. I am curious if he wants to arrest anyone for trying on a skirt that maybe too short at clothing stores too because they might be regarded as being too rauchy! Do clothing shop workers need to carry a ruler to measure the distance from the knee to guarantee they aren't going to be used as a miniskirt and regard them as obscene?

He went after a store that sold "sexual appliances" that are supposedly illegal under state law. Okay I'll give him this one. If its illegal....don't carry it!!!

But the video store he went for "its wide selection of film classics than the raunchier fare it also offers." So these aren't adult videos. Just raunchier say Basic Instinct (sex), Titanic(nudity). Actual videos that probably would be legal. If like the clothing it doesn't have to be nudity....just HIS IDEA of obscene.

So let's add this up. He wants to just use taxpayer money fighting something that has been fought before and was lost before over materials that are (expect the appliances) legal to carry!!!

He should be taking the battles to the state legislature and not in the stores. They are within (except the appliances) the law to carry.

[Hardcopy]

Ok the guy is nuts, but you misquoted the article a lil' bit.

You said:

But the video store he went for "its wide selection of film classics than the raunchier fare it also offers."

But the full quote was:

The third establishment was a video store known more for its wide selection of film classics than the raunchier fare it also offers.

Which sounds like adult videos are not his main thing, but that would be why he is gone after.

I found more info about the halloween costumes and they are kinda extreme.

KMBC's Maria Antonia reported that some of the costumes available at the store include a well-developed woman in a wet T-shirt contest, a giant version of the male organ, a snake charmer with a snake coming out of a man's pants, and one called Country Lovin', which shows a man with a sheep on his front side and what looks like an exposed rear end.

Those are pretty raunchy, so I can see where those would be a problem.

Haven't seen even one thing that points that the video store was displaying them openly though. I haven't seen one thing saying he had his adult videos next to the kids videos or anything like that, just that he had them and was selling them. Also haven't seen anything that he was breaking local ordinances or anything like, just that they were obscene. Sounds like they are just going after him because he has an adult room and nothing more.

Rich.

[Adrian_Hickman]

Even beyond that, what you have here is a crusader who has been able to get the backing of a national group, National Coalition for the Protection of Children & Families, and is encouraged to use Kansas City as the model for other actions in other areas. He specifically points to Missouri as a target. He has been active for a few years laying the groundwork, and as you read the column, you see that he seems to know the ins and outs of the legislature and of the Kansas grand jury system. IMHO, he seesm to throw everything against the wall, to see what may stick, and if it doesn't, he may at least affect the shutdown of these places simply by escalating their legal bills,

The National Coaltion works with other groups like Focus On The Family and Citizen Magazine.

[Zoner]

Wow I'd better be careful, I'm in MO. 

Should I hide my copy of Striptease? 

The courts and grand juries or what ever should tell these sorts of people to mind there own business, get a job and leave everyone else alone.  Must be nice to have the power to decide for me and my family what is obscene or not.  Sorry had to rant.

[direct007]

By the viewers' responses to that article, it doesn't look like this crusader has many supporters.  Other than giving more publicity to the stores that offer sexually oriented items/videos, this guy should go away sooner than later.

[IVR]

This is what is going on in my town right now. They haven't bothered our stores yet but I'm sure it's just a matter of time.

http://www.newbernsj.com/news/adult_36513___article.html/store_police.html

http://www.newbernsj.com/news/store_36486___article.html/adult_police.html

http://www.newbernsj.com/news/adult_36769___article.html/store_hearing.html

http://www.newbernsj.com/news/police_255___article.html/adult_store.html

[Adrian_Hickman]

Of course,it is nearing election time, and since this is an off year, with many more local and statewide races than national ones, it is time for the photo ops and the posturing, even when the officials know that , in the end, they will probably lose. Their intent is on impact, as well as intimidation.

This is always an easy target, because so much misinformation disguised as fact can flwo unchecked, and oppeonets can force their will simply by making it cost prohibitve for the businesses to go one.

As the first link of IVR's post shows, the New Bern police are conducting continuing raids, while there are already court proceedings on similar charges, which, to me, are clearly an intimidation tactic.

My favorite part of that story is the following:

The Rev. Walter Leake of the Craven-Pamlico Christian Coalition said he has talked to police about Pure Bliss and voiced complaints. “We quietly picket the business on the fourth Sunday of each month, except during December, because of Christmas,” Leake said Friday.

They "quietly" picket, but take December off, because of Christmas. Their message is preempted by the "spirit of the holiday"?  Or is it suspended because the hubbub won't be noticed at that time of year?

In any event, please remember to support Steve, if not through a few bucks, then at least through your show of support. As IVR's post shows, this can happen anywhere, to anyone, and at anytime. This could be any or all of us.

Adrian Hickman
TLA Video
iDEA member

[direct007]

I found this article online from seven years ago, very interesting:  http://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/23/technology/23PORN.html?ex=1191902400&en=0ef7125b5f4c85b1&ei=5070