US District Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan apparently wasn’t kidding when she said that it might be possible that even Playboy, a tame magazine by today’s standards, could still be deemed obscene in the United States. A bookstore in Alabama is currently being accused of selling obscene materials – Playboy and Playgirl.
The Books-A-Million bookstore in the Cullman Shopping Center has removed all adult magazines following a police investigation that obscene materials were on display and being sold at the location.
Cullman County District Attorney Len Brooks told the local newspaper that Playboy and Playgirl were the “obscene materials” that led to the complaints.
"I have received a letter today from the president of Books-A-Million indicating that the placement of the magazines in the local store was a mistake and that the magazines have been removed," Brooks told The Cullman Times. "I'm glad to know that Books-A-Million has voluntarily chosen not to sell these magazines. We must continue to work to insure the community standard and values of morals and decency that have been established here are not compromised."
Brooks indicated that he would continue to press businesses not to carry such magazines.
If Playboy were not to meet the “community standards” test for proving that an item is “obscene” it would happen in a community like Cullman – the town has a population of less than 14,000 and is best known as the home of the only Benedictine Abbey in the state of Alabama, which hosts the Ave Maria Grotto – miniature reproductions of over 125 famous churches, shrines and buildings.
Cullman is also the home of University of Alabama offensive lineman Wesley Britt - who declined an offer to be a member of Playboy's preseason All-America team last year – because the magazine didn't conform to his Christian faith.
Buchanan had made her now prophetic remarks during a debate about the Extreme obscenity case on ABC’s Good Morning America in August of last year.
Good Morning America host Charles Gibson asked Buchanan to give her interpretation of what is illegal, specifically questioning how far the “community standards” concept could go. “Some would argue that applies to Playboy. By community standards Playboy might be offensive,” Gibson, said.
Buchanan admitted, “That might be possible.”
Apparently it definitely is possible, although the bookstore decided to pull the magazines voluntarily rather than let a jury decide whether or not the magazine actually was obscene.
