House Bill Seeks Local Regulation of Oregon Strip Clubs

The amendment is limited to regulating strip clubs and does not include other adult establishments.

Oregon State Capitol Photo: Kevin Hays

(SALEM) - Representative Kevin Cameron (R-Salem) dropped his two priority bills today in an effort to aid local government authorities to regulate strip clubs in their community.

HJR 56 is a referral to the voters to amend the Constitution of the State of Oregon.

The amendment would allow state or local governments to use their regulatory authority to restrict strip clubs to the extent allowed under the Constitution of the United States.

This amendment is limited to regulating strip clubs and does not include other adult establishments. HB 3547 provides the ballot title for the ballot referral.

On September 29th, 2005, in The State of Oregon v. Ciancanelli, the Oregon Supreme Court, in a 5-1 decision, overturned the conviction of the crime of promoting a live sex show.

In a separate ruling, the Court also found a city of Nyssa ordinance requiring a four-foot buffer between nude dancers and patrons unconstitutional. In one fell swoop, the Oregon Supreme Court has declared live sex acts as constitutionally protected freedom of speech and restricted local communities from making good decisions for its citizens.

The Court’s interpretation of Oregon’s free expression law establishes protections far beyond what the United States Constitution guarantees.

“This extreme interpretation of the State of Oregon’s freedom of expression law comes at a cost to local communities, families, and public safety,” commented Rep. Cameron. “This bill is an attempt to balance important civil liberties while at the same time giving people options to keep their children and communities protected and properties safe.”

The conflict has most recently been evident in the unsuccessful attempts of members of the Faye Wright Neighborhood Association in Salem to restrict a strip club from opening in a location which is close to schools and a nearby park.

“It is time we bring some commonsense and local control to this process,” Representative Cameron said.

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J-S, Julia: Thanks for your insightful comments. "Public opinion" solidly seen via publication here is one of strongest weapons for precise remediation for many damaging situations when finally found highly visible by legislators.

I am all for personal liberties and the right to have a business. When that right has a negative effect on a community, then its the communty's responsibility to take action. There is an appropiate place for these types of businesses and its not anywhere near children. So, I salute the efforts currently being made!

Courts hve blundered often before...witness the U.S. Supremes prior to Civil War settlement by force of arms rather than rational force of reason-offered over decades. Same distortion by longtime propaganda and "economic considerations" (!) has much to do with shaping what is only a "living-person" right to political speech for the definitely non-living and dollar-driven corporation,thus setting up those massive and misleading "corporate campaign contributions."

Wonderful to see Kevin Camerson pick up where we left off...we dont consider ourselves defeated even tho the club opened. Time has come when Neighborhood Associations are strongly becoming the voice of the people of their respective neighborhoods. Faye Wright does NOT want the strip club right at the back door of homes, parks, ice cream stores and kid-friendly fast food places. Put them in specialized areas where family friendly neighborhoods are not affected. Already the real estate value of homes and stores has dropped drastically. Where is morality going these days....lets speak up and be heard. Have you seen the sign outside Presleys....go look, and then try to explain it to a youngster. Its disgusting. If you want to learn more about what YOU can do...coe to the Faye Wright Annual meeting on Thursday, April 25 at 7pm. Faye Wright School on Lone Oak. Its our 35th Anniversary, and there will be refreshments, too. Let us hear what YOU have to say. Kevin Cameron, can you stop by, too?

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