Bill Would Ban Playboy In Military

Several Republican congressmen want to ban sales of magazines such as Playboy, Playgirl and Penthouse on U.S. military bases, saying they undermine military families and national defense.

They are sponsoring a measure to be taken up today by the House National Security Committee that would ban the sale or rental on the bases of any sexually explicit material, including audio and video recordings and periodicals.

“Uncle Sam should not be subsidizing smut,” Maryland Rep. Roscoe Bartlett said.

Bartlett, New Jersey Rep. Chris Smith and California Rep. Bob Dornan wrote colleagues last week that taxpayers are subsidizing the sale of adult magazines because the periodicals are discounted when sold on the bases.

Playboy Enterprises special counsel Burton Joseph accused lawmakers of neglecting their oath to defend the Constitution.

“They must have missed the First Amendment part,” he said.