Update: Very kindly linked by Ted Bronson, who takes Broun to task in no uncertain terms. Rightly so.

I’m not a person who believes that there is anything wrong with a little healthy porn and, while I won’t be publishing pictures of nekkid ladies here on ResurrectionSong, I’ve seen a centerfold or two in my life. Which is why this bugs me no end:

Concerned that the military is selling pornography in exchange stores in spite of a ban, one lawmaker has introduced a bill to clean up the matter.

“Our troops should not see their honor sullied so that the moguls behind magazines like Playboy and Penthouse can profit,” said Rep. Paul Broun, R-Ga., unveiling his House bill April 16.

His Military Honor and Decency Act would amend a provision of the 1997 Defense Authorization Act that banned sales of “sexually explicit material” on military bases.

The new language would “close existing loopholes” in regulations to bring the military “into compliance with the intent of the 1997 law,” Broun said.

“Allowing sale of pornography on military bases has harmed military men and women by escalating the number of violent, sexual crimes, feeding a base addiction, eroding the family as the primary building block of society, and denigrating the moral standing of our troops both here and abroad,” Broun said.

Firstly, I’d like to see some proof of his assertions of harm. Second, it’s nice of him to be working so hard to be protecting Military Honor and Decency, but I’m thinking that our men and women in uniform do a pretty good job of that themselves. Third, if those men and women who are serving our country in various capacities throughout the world want to relax with a few aesthetically pleasing pictures of nekkid folks, is that really such a crime?

The answer is no, of course. It might be a sin (I’ll leave that up to individuals to decide), but it most certainly isn’t a crime.

So, Congressman Broun, perhaps you could find something better to do with your time. Might I suggest bowling?

With a tip of the hat to Stuttaford.