Maryland House Votes to Ban ‘Obscene’ Rock Music Records

The Maryland House of Delegates on Friday passed a bill banning the sale of “obscene” rock music records to minors after hearing one lawmaker call the raunchy lyrics “the worst kind of child abuse we have.”

“It’s hard for me to understand that we now do not allow one form of communication to distribute filth, but we will allow other forms,” said Delegate Joseph Owens, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.

The bill’s sponsor, Delegate Judith Toth, said during a 45-minute debate on the House floor that she was shocked by lyrics to such songs as Prince’s “Darling Nikki” and “Sister,” which deal with masturbation and incest.

“We’re talking about records (that deal with) incest and rape,” Toth said. “These records are saying, ‘Do it, kids. It feels good. It’s fine.’ ”

“This probably is the worst kind of child abuse we have in this state. This is mass child abuse,” Owens said.

The delegates voted 96 to 31 in favor of the measure, which specifies a $1,000 fine or one year in prison for anyone selling to minors records or tapes deemed pornographic. The bill now must pass the Senate.

Opponents of the measure said the bill is unenforceable and would place an unreasonable burden on stores to determine which records should be off limits to minors.

But the Maryland attorney general’s office has concluded that the bill is constitutional and that it will be up to the courts to decide what is to be deemed obscene according to community standards.

About a dozen House pages, all of them high school students, eagerly watched the vote and blamed the outcome on election-year politics.

“Kids don’t vote, parents do. This is really unfair,” Francis Gibson, 17, said.