Don't care? Wait until they come for your private activity next

A jury in Phoenix, Arizona has convicted an online Internet video store of shipping a copy of Gag Factor 18 to an FBI agent in Virginia, as they found the movie to be "obscene". No private individual was convicted of any wrongdoing, but the business faces fines, confiscation of any remaining copies of the movie (more on this in a minute), and the loss of its website. The business was acquitted, however, of shipping copies of Filthy Things 6 and American Bukkake 13, as they are apparently not obscene. (Thank God, as I was beginning to think I'd have to bury my copies. I'm kidding, you know.) And no, I'm not going to tell you what "bukkake" is. Do a Google search for yourself.

Putting aside the question of just why the FBI has the time and resources to perform porn sting operations while we are supposedly under an imminent threat of terrorist bombings, why should the peasantry care about the shippers of dirty movies being harassed by the Feds? Because the government has no right under the First Amendment to regulate what two or more over 18, consenting adults decide to do to each other in private, and to record said activities for others to watch. This kind of porn isn't really my cup of tea, and it's probably not yours, either. That being said, what happens when the Morality Police decide to come after something that's your particular kink? After all, it appears that all the mighty government has to do now is convince some jury that something is "offensive to morality or decency", according to dictionary.com. How do they do that? You've got me, since the definition is so ambiguous as to be functionally useless. What's offensive to me might be just what gets you excited on Saturday night, and whatever that is, it's none of my business, and certainly not the government's.

It wouldn't be a story about the Federal government without an ironic twist, so here it is:

"As reported previously, the government has overseen the sale of the same videos (emphasis mine) in administering the business of Castle Megastores following that company’s declaration of bankruptcy."

Once again, the Federal government allows itself to do something, and does the Inspector Javert routine to any private citizen who dares to do the same. Someone better tell that jury that they need to find the Feds guilty of peddling "obscene" smut, as well. After all, it's only fair.

I wonder if you get a brown paper bag with the Seal of the United States on it when you buy your "obscene" materials from the Gubmint?