FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, June 19, 2023
Hobbs Allows Arizona Children to Visit Sexually Explicit
Adult Performances and Businesses
PHOENIX, ARIZONA— Senator Justine Wadsack is shining a light on the liberal extremist governing the State of Arizona after a bill she sponsored to protect kids from being exposed to sexually explicit adult performances and businesses was vetoed Friday by Katie Hobbs.
SB 1698 (unlawful exposure; minors; sentencing; reporting) would have made it a crime punishable as a class 4 felony when an adult knowingly exposes a child to an adult oriented business or performance where sexually explicit materials are on display or sexually explicit activities are taking place.
A report released by the American Bar Association reveals adult predators involved in child abuse cases may expose their victims to sexually explicit images during a process of sexual grooming, which is described as a preparatory process in which the perpetrator gradually gains trust with the intent to be sexually abusive. This bill would have held accountable those individuals who are subjecting this material to kids by way of adult-oriented businesses and performances with strict punishment. It would have also created a deterrent to engaging in these practices.
"Katie Hobbs' thinly veiled effort to allow sexual grooming of our children is an awful position to take as our Arizona Governor," said Senator Wadsack. "The people of this state expect our elected leaders to do everything in their power to protect those who can't protect themselves. This bill would have ensured prosecutors could seek appropriate punishment for adults who recklessly steal the innocence of our kids by exposing them to sexually explicit adult businesses and performances. Once again, Governor Hobbs is choosing 'chaos over sanity' in an effort to encourage her extremist, liberal base to donate to her political fundraising campaigns instead of defending the safety of one of our most vulnerable populations."
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For more information, contact:
Kim Quintero
Director of Communications | Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus
kquintero@azleg.gov