SR1273sam001 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1273SAM001 LRB100 17004 MST 36247 a

AMENDMENT TO SENATE RESOLUTION 1273

AMENDMENT NO. ___. Amend Senate Resolution 1273 by replacing everything after the heading with the following:

"WHEREAS, In light of the advances in technology and the widespread accessibility of the Internet, pornography is more readily available and easily accessible than at any time in American history; and

WHEREAS, As reported in 2013, all of the pornography websites on the Internet had more visitors that year than Amazon, Netflix, and Twitter combined; and

WHEREAS, Pornography normalizes violence, particularly against women and children; and

WHEREAS, This rise in the demand for pornography has contributed to the human trafficking and the sexual exploitation of both women and children around the world; and

WHEREAS, The women and children forced into producing pornography against their will are often kidnapped, held against their will, or are forced to continue producing pornography out of fear, threats, and violence by the traffickers; and

WHEREAS, The Internet has led to a dramatic increase in the production of underground pornography or amateur pornography that depicts more violent and illegal content, which is much harder to regulate and catch the offenders; and

WHEREAS, Pornography equates torment and violence against women and children with pleasure, increasing the demand for sex trafficking, prostitution, child sexual abuse images, and child pornography; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize that pornography harms the State of Illinois and its citizens; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we recognize the need for education, research, and policy change at the community and societal level in order to address the epidemic that is harming the citizens of Illinois and the country as a whole."