TO NATIONAL EDITOR:
 
 FRC APPLAUDS EFFORTS TO PROTECT OUR FAMILIES FROM PORN ON THE INTERNET
 
 WASHINGTON, July 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Family Research Council applauds 
 efforts by Senator Charles Grassley and others to curb pornography 
 distribution on the information superhighway. Family Research Council
 Director of Legal Studies Cathy Cleaver made the following statement
 Monday prior to the Senate Judiciary committee's hearing on the issue:
 "Those charging censorship, overregulation, and 'cybersensitivity'
 have done a grave disservice to this country by 'smoke-screening' the 
 pertinent issues from parents, concerned citizens, and lawmakers.
 Despite all the rhetoric and accusations, the debate boils down to two 
 issues: the accessibility of pornography on the Internet and the
 constitutionality of the means of regulation. If there is a problem
 with pornography on the Internet, the need for regulation becomes a 
 foregone conclusion and the question of the most effective and least 
 restrictive constitutional means of regulation becomes central.
 Opponents of regulation are engaging in scare tactics in an effort to
 'muddy the waters' of this debate. The dangers posed against our nation
 and especially our children are too high for this type of senseless 
 politicking.
        "There are several flaws to the approach of creating software to
 screen out the offensive material. First, it is wrong to shift the
 entire cost and burden of protecting children from this material to the 
 parents. Moreover, it is an approach which favors restrictions upon the 
 'good actors' -- children and families -- and free reign for the 'bad 
 actors -- those who would give porn to children. Second, it is naive to
 think that software 'solutions' in a vacuum will truly solve the
 problem. We need regulation in place to discourage computer
 pornographers from circumventing software solutions with impunity.
 Without a law delineating wrongdoing from right, the protection of
 children will depend upon the 'good character' of those who would
 exploit them."
        "Government regulation and parental responsibility are not mutually 
 exclusive approaches to this problem. The opponents of regulation 
 addressing distribution of pornography to minors fight virtually any
 regulation of pornography. To them, pornography of the most graphic
 form, accessible to everyone, is what freedom is all about. Others know
 that, to have a civilized society, we must recognize the difference
 between liberty and license, and acknowledge the insidious effects of
 pornography on the formative minds and hearts of our children."
 -0- 7/24/95
 /NOTE TO EDITORS: From 4-5 p.m. EDT today, FRC is helping to get
 media exposure for 15-year-old Danelle Gruff, who is testifying today
 about her horrifying experience with pornography on the Internet. Call
 FRC for more information or interviews./
 /CONTACT: Kristi S. Hamrick, or for radio, Kristin Hansen, of the
 Family Research Council, 202-393-2100/