The Nation: Resisting the Plain Wrappers

Peeling back the plain brown wrappers that arrive unbidden in their mailboxes, Americans are often startled to confront erotic tableaux that range from the elaborately Oriental to the nearly gynecological. Last week a law took effect that could reduce the flow of pornography somewhat. According to the new measure, incorporated into the Postal Reorganization Act last year, anyone who does not want to receive pornographic material can go to the nearest post office and request that his name be entered on a computerized list. Thereafter, any pornographer who sends “sexually oriented ads” to a person on the list is liable to a fine of up to $5,000 and five years in prison.

The new law will make the pornographer’s trade at least a bit more difficult. For one thing, the cost of obtaining the Government’s roster will be between $5,000 and $10,000. Then the pornographer must laboriously match up his own mailing list against the Postal Service’s. Although the law will undoubtedly face numerous legal challenges, the effect could be to drive smaller pornographers out of business and leave the field to a few large, computerized firms. Should that happen, of course, Americans might look forward to the day when the Justice Department could bring antitrust suits against smut conglomerates for cornering the market in filthy pictures.