1st Amendment Shield for Slayer Raises Concerns

I found the attempt of death metal music group Slayer and Sony Music to use the 1st Amendment to shield themselves from liability to a murder victim’s family both disingenuous and disgusting [“Murder Case Spotlights Marketing of Violent Lyrics,” Jan. 21].

What Sony’s attorneys refuse to recognize is that freedom of speech has limits and that there is no absolute right to market obscenity to minors. Our founding fathers certainly did not intend to protect immature, irresponsible freaks who sing about killing a virgin and raping her corpse and market their “art” to drugged-out, disillusioned teenage boys--who then emulate those lyrics at the expense of an innocent young girl’s life--and laugh all the way to the bank.

I can’t help but wonder whether Slayer, Sony executives and their attorneys would still advocate such free “speech” if it were any of their 15-year-old daughters who was raped and killed by a fan of Slayer’s “artistic expression.”

CHARLES Q. CLAY III

Long Beach

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* I was disappointed in the response of the Sony-financed American Recordings to the charges in litigation pending against it concerning the marketing of violent lyrics. Although it has 1st Amendment rights that allow the marketing of such material, there is a moral responsibility that transcends the legal right.

American Recordings is hiding behind the shield of the Constitution in order to make as much money as possible, no matter what the social outcome.

Though I do believe there is a right to produce the material in question, I also believe it should not be without cost. There should be a responsibility for the foreseeable result of the violence-inspired lyrics.

Unstable youths will not be stopped by a mere label on the packaging. It is impossible for parents to examine every CD their children may be exposed to. Therefore it is up to the manufacturers and distributors to have in place an effective screening method to keep these materials out of the hands of impressionable youngsters.

Along with rights go responsibilities. My full support goes to the Pahler family in seeking damages for the wrong that has been done.

BILL WILLEN

Redondo Beach