Project 2025: How Christian Nationalists Will Punish "Pornographers"
The final installment in this week's deep-dive into Oklahoma's proposed "anti-porn" bill (Scroll to the end to listen)
We’ve spent this week dissecting Oklahoma’s proposed “anti-pornography” legislation. Thanks to its text, we don’t have to guess how a Christo-fascist Republican government would punish anyone they accuse of “pornography.”
It applies the Texas “abortion bounty hunter law” to items Christian Nationalists deem to be “pornographic.”
Any person, other than an officer or employee of a state or local governmental entity in this state, may bring a civil action against any person who:
1. Produces or distributes unlawful pornography that lacks serious literary, artistic, educational, political, or scientific purposes or value;
2. Knowingly engages in conduct that aids or abets the production or distribution of unlawful pornography that lacks serious literary, artistic, educational, political, or scientific purposes or value;
or 3. Intends to engage in the conduct provided for in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this subsection.
G. If a claimant prevails in an action brought under this section, the court shall award:
1. Injunctive relief sufficient to prevent the defendant from violating this section or engaging in acts that aid or abet violations of this section;
2. Statutory damages not less than Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) for each image or depiction produced or distributed within this state; and
3. Court costs and attorney fees.
Oklahoma Senate Bill 1976, pages 7 - 8
Welcome to the Christo-fascist Pornography Gestapo, folks. Where your Christian Nationalist colleagues and neighbors may peek into your windows and snoop through your homes and devices looking for ways to punish your “porn habit” and make bank.
But wait. There’s more.
It shall be unlawful for any person to buy, procure, view, or possess child pornography or obscene materials or to distribute any unlawful pornography that lacks serious literary, artistic, educational, political, or scientific purposes or value as defined in Section 1024.1 of this title. Such person shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a felony and shall be punishable by imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections for not more than twenty (20) years or a fine up to, but not exceeding, not to exceed Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) or by both such fine and imprisonment. This shall not be construed to prevent spouses from sending images of a sexual nature to each other. (Oklahomans better hope Dusty Deevers never sees them, tho. - ALW)
Oklahoma Senate Bill 1976, pages 8 - 9
This bill also attempts to enshrine the Comstock Act’s prosecution of the mailing of “obscene materials” into state law.
In the case of any unsolicited mailing of any of the material listed in this section, the offense is deemed complete from the time such material is deposited in any post office or delivered to any person with intent that it shall be forwarded. Also, unless preempted by federal law, no unsolicited mail which is harmful to minors pursuant to Section 1040.75 of this title shall be mailed to any person.
Oklahoma Senate Bill 1976, page 9
Mailing “obscene materials” also has consequences.
Any person who violates any provision of this section involving obscene materials or unlawful pornography, upon conviction, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one (1) year, or by a fine of not less than Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00), or by both such fine and imprisonment.
Oklahoma Senate Bill 1976, pages 9 - 10
The bill reserves special venom for those deemed to be “child pornographers.”
Any person who violates any provision of this section involving child pornography, upon conviction, shall be guilty of a felony and shall be punished by imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections for not less than three (3) years and not more than twenty (20) years, or by a fine of not less than Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00), or by both such fine and imprisonment. Any person convicted of a second or subsequent violation shall, upon conviction, be punished by imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections for not less than ten (10) years and not more than thirty (30) years, or by a fine of not less than Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000.00), or by both such fine and imprisonment. The violator, upon conviction, shall be required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offenders Registration Act.
Oklahoma Senate Bill 1976, page 10
Remember who Project 2025 called “child pornographers?” Let’s look at that language again.
Educators and public librarians who purvey it (pornography) should be classed as registered sex offenders.
Project 2025, page 5
Oh, and look when this bill is scheduled to go into effect.
This act shall become effective November 1, 2024.
Oklahoma Senate Bill 1976, page 10
Call me cynical, but I expect them to amend this date to a few days after the November election.
This week has been a very deep dive into a topic many Americans don’t take seriously. It’s hard to imagine living in a country where our most private, intimate moments could be prosecuted as “pornographic.” This is Government On Steroids. There’s nothing small-government about their plans.
I am assuming that accepted literary masterpieces (even Shakespeare) would be banned. The Victorians "bowdlerized" Shakespeare. Is that where we are headed, at least in OK? Would book lovers be unable to access "Ulysses" or works by DH Lawrence, for example? Would adults be blocked from ordering from Amazon or Barnes & Noble? How far are they willing to carry this edict?
I note there does not seem to be an allowance/exception for SATIRICAL content....such a trap, as my first instinct is to imagine a meme involving Oklahoma legislators and their hidden urges. Is my instinct now criminalized (Clause #3, "Intend to")?