Pornographic Cartoons and Comics Banned in US

Anime and manga pornography found illegal in the US.

Saturday, April 1, 2006

A Japanese "manga" depicting sexual relations between minors.

Home123 - Rates as low as 4.75%
Request information on a home equity loan or mortgage today.
www.home123info.com

2.75% Fixed Student Loan Consolidation
70% lower student loan payments - fixed rate, no fees, qualify in one...
www.nextstudent.com

Donate Now - Food Saves Lives
Your donation of $30 will provide $240 worth of food in East Africa. Help...
www.worldvision.org

More Useful Links
• Wellness • Distance Learning • Fresh Flowers

• 27 charged in child porn sting

YOUR E-MAIL ALERTS

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- By a wider margin than expected, the Senate on Friday passed legislation banning the sale of all pornographic cartoons and comics known as "anime" and "manga," respectively.

In an effort to curb child pornography, the Senate voted to ban the Japanese media, also known as "hentai," from sale in the United States. "I applaud the Senate for joining the House in passing the ban on 'anime,'" Bush said in a written statement. "This is very important legislation that will end the sale of a disturbing 'art form' in America. I look forward to signing it into law."

Cartoon pornography, known as "anime" to its fans, was one of the President's major targets in his war against child pornography. Its comic book form, "manga," was also being targeted. In recent years, these Japanese forms of media have become increasingly popular in the United States.

The Child Pornography Prevention Act of 1996 made it illegal to possess or distribute any visual depiction that "appears to be" or "conveys the impression" of a child engaging in a sexually explicit act.

The Japanese media regularly presents under-aged characters in compromising positions. Some stories are merely suggestive, while others show graphic nudity of minors. Because of this, known sex offenders can go into any bookstore and walk out with a DVD or book filled with this Japanese form of child pornography.

"After watching or reading this media, these people are much more likely to take the fantasy into their own hands," said U.S. Attorney Richard Roper for the Northern District of Texas. He added, "Those who engage in the possession and/or distribution of anime and manga pornography will know the full effects of the federal criminal justice system."

Pornography producers/consumers who violate the new ban would be subject to prison terms of up to five years on the first offense and up to 10 years for subsequent offenses. All bookstores and retail outlets are required to stop the sale of all anime and manga immediately.

The new legislation implements congressionally-approved amendments to the Child Protection and Obscenity Enforcement Act, which President Bush signed into law in 2003.