Audio: Anti-Porn Activist Flips Out After Censorship Bill Withdrawn in ND Legislature

Today on my radio show I had on as a guest anti-porn activist Chris Severe to talk about that “pornography vending machine” censorship legislation which was withdrawn in the state House earlier today.

Severe is part of a group that’s been pushing similar legislation in a number of states, calling it the “Human Trafficking Prevention Act.” Which seems entirely misleading. While there’s no question that human tracking, and stuff like child pornography, are real problems the idea that mandating censorship hardware/software in every internet-capable device we own is the way to solve those problem is ridiculous.

If you look at their website, it quickly becomes clear that this group’s real beef isn’t so much human trafficking, etc., etc. but plain old porn. The legal kind made for consenting adults by consenting adults.

[mks_pullquote align=”right” width=”300″ size=”24″ bg_color=”#ffffff” txt_color=”#000000″]Severe didn’t take too kindly to me challenging him on these issues during our interview. He accused me of being a member of the “liberal media,” and at one point even seemed to suggest that I watch child pornography.[/mks_pullquote]

Anyway, Severe didn’t take too kindly to me challenging him on these issues during our interview. He accused me of being a member of the “liberal media,” and at one point even seemed to suggest that I watch or at least condone child pornography.

Ironically, as I was interviewing Severe, the legislation he was backing was withdrawn from consideration by a unanimous voice vote of the state House. Lawmakers are allowed to withdraw their own bills if they get a unanimous vote from the full chamber.

When I told Severe about the withdrawal he lashed out at the lawmakers as well.

“The sponsors who buckled under the weight of the liberal media, they should be punted out of office,” he told me.

The prime sponsor of the legislation, HB1185, was Rep. Lawrence Klemin, a Republican from Bismarck. You can see my original post with the full bill text and my analysis here.

Here’s the full audio of my interview with Severe. Remember if you can’t listen to my radio show live on WDAY AM970 from 1-2 pm on weekdays you can subscribe to the podcast and listen whenever you like.

[fcc_jw_podcast key=”XLOF1eZM” player-image=”135931″]