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Who we are
1. "Backlash" brings together various groups and individuals opposed to the Home Office's consultation paper on so-called "extreme pornographic material" which proposes making illegal the possession of images of acts which they consider “abhorrent” or “to have no place in society”. Our members include:
* Feminists against Censorship
* Ofwatch
* SM Dykes London and South East
* The Campaign Against Censorship
* The Sexual Freedom Coalition
* The Society for Individual Freedom
2. These groups, which represent tens of thousands of British people, are working together to oppose the proposals.
Why we oppose the proposed law
3. The Home Office admits in its consultation document that there is no evidence that demonstrates a link between the type of material under discussion and unlawful activity. We agree.
4. It does not propose to punish the acts themselves, but wishes to make the simple possession of images of certain sexual fantasies subject to a maximum term of 3 years imprisonment. It will deny people the right to make up their own minds about what is acceptable.
5. What consenting adults look at or do in their own homes is not any concern of the State. These proposals would infringe the civil liberties and protected freedoms of law-abiding people.
6. Law enforcement agencies around the world already have powers to prevent and punish actual crimes that have taken place through existing legislation. We condemn any acts where the participants did not give their consent. Viewers should not be penalised for looking at fantasy images of consenting actors.
7. The consultation document suggests that banning the possession of such images might have an appreciable effect on supply or demand but fails to advance any arguments or evidence that this is so. We believe that the evidence is to the contrary. Imprisonment of those who look at such images will not remove the images from the internet nor protect children from them. What you can do
8. We believe that adults can make up their own minds about what they view in private, even if those things may be distasteful to others. Backlash urges anyone who thinks that it is not the business of the state to criminalise the possession of images that the government considers to be "abhorrent", to contact their MP and to respond to the Home Office's consultation, stating their objections to these proposals.
Where do I find the consultation document and how can I object?
The consultation document (it's the same for Scotland and England) and an online response form can be found at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/08/30112423/24254
To contact your MP:
http://www.parliament.uk/directories/directories.cfm