GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit has ruled that an ordinance restricting sexually-oriented businesses is constitutional, upholding a lower court’s decision in the case. An Alliance Defense Fund allied attorney represents a group of local citizens wishing to protect their families from the harmful secondary effects of such businesses.
“The government should promote and encourage strong families. When lawmakers have to choose between protecting our children and protecting a sexually-oriented business, the choice is obvious. Our children’s safety comes first,” said ADF Senior Counsel Joe Infranco. “The 6th Circuit rightfully understood this.”
Nearly two years ago, sex-shop owners filed suit against the city of Grand Rapids following the adoption of an ordinance restricting the time, place, and manner in which the businesses could operate. City officials passed the ordinance after they reviewed evidence detailing the negative secondary effects of such businesses on a community.
ADF-allied attorney Jim Wierenga defended the ordinance on behalf of citizens supportive of it. Residents won their initial battle in 2006 when a federal court denied sex-shop owners’ request for a preliminary injunction (
www.telladf.org/news/story.aspx?cid=3848).
“Placing restrictions on these types of businesses is the only way to ensure that children and the rest of the community don’t suffer the harmful secondary effects that come from such businesses,” said Wierenga. “The protection of children should always be a higher priority than protecting a sex shop.”
A copy of the ruling issued May 20 by the 6th Circuit in
Sensations v. City of Grand Rapids is available at
www.telladf.org/UserDocs/GrandRapidsWin.pdf.
ADF is a legal alliance of Christian attorneys and like-minded organizations defending the right of people to freely live out their faith. Launched in 1994, ADF employs a unique combination of strategy, training, funding, and litigation to protect and preserve religious liberty, the sanctity of life, marriage, and the family.
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