I've received a request to send a book of erotica to Alabama. I know Alabama has strict laws re: pornography, but I'm unclear about laws regarding erotica to the state (and others). Can anyone shed light?

thanks,

bianca

Alabama has strict porn laws? That's BS in my opinion. I'll look at and read what I want to read and look at when I want to read and look at it!

Wikipedia's entry on Freedom of Speech -- scroll down to Obscenity.  It briefly addresses obscenity and the First Amendment, what you have in your private home, and community standards.

The Miller test is the United States Supreme Court's test for determining whether speech or expression can be labeled obscene, in which case it is not protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and can be prohibited.

Obscenity, defined by the Miller test by applying contemporary community standards, is one exception. It is speech to which all of the following apply: appeals to the prurient interest, depicts or describes sexual conduct in a patently offensive way, and lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value. (This is usually applied to more hard-core forms of pornography.)

As someone who lives in Alabama, all I can tell you is to send it on, especially if it was requested. The only way a legal authority in AL will know what's in my mail is if I report it, and I'm only likely to do that if it's unsolicited.

(and no, I'm not the original requestor LOL)

Erotica is allowed.  The only thing not allowed on PBS is pornography, because it is NOT legal in all 50 states.  For instance, in NC the sale of pornography showing an erect penis is not allowed, but other porn is.   I assure you that you can buy erotica in the south, and it's just as popular as it is up north (or anywhere else).

Like RockStarGirl said, there are erotica books sold in the south.  I'm from Mississippi and all local bookstores in my area have erotica books.

Send it! Send it! Blow the bible belt wide open! :-) (I'm in Raleigh, NC!)

Interesting discussion.  Today I received a PBS package with an extra label marked postage due $0.80.  The sender used the normal PBS address mailing printout but there was no obvious signs of the original postage and no other normal signs of internal USPS package tracking.  There is an extra label attached that says US postage of $2.24 for a package weighing 6.3 ounces but it also says FIRST CLASS and postage due.  My suspicion is some USPS inspector is arbitrarily deciding that some erotica books do not qualify as media mailing. 

That might be because of the delivery confirmation but electronic DC is FREE for First Class parcels.  But 80 cents doesn't sound right for DC either, so who kows?

Or knows, as the case may be.

Alabama...just send the book.  I doubt it violates local law, and if so it's the requestors responsibility to know their regulations not yours.

"...no obvious signs of the original postage..."  maybe it fell off enroute, or the sender forgot to add postage...members report both situations occasionally.  I've taken packages to the PO for postage and the clerks mistaken the PBS info in the upper right corner for actual postage and attempt to toss my package in a sorting bin.  I've had to call them back and point out that I'm there to purchase postage.

Between unknowing PBS members and untrained USPS staff, the chain of events can become confusing.

Tony did the book weigh 6.3 ounces of that was how much postage was paid and it weighed more? The book would have gone first class at that weight and not media mail. The media mail price minimum is $2.69. 

if you are concerned about it send it 1st class. If you send it media mail the package is subject to opening by the p o and you never know what some p o employee might do.

To clear things up--erotica is not pornography.  There, end of discussion.  Send the book out and don't worry about breaking any laws because you aren't.

You guys know this is a 6 year old thread, right? The original transaction has long since been completed.

There was a new question asked August 15th 2014 though.