To Encourage the State of Tennessee to Include Exposing Children to Pornography as a Child Abuse/Neglect Offense

The Tennessee State Statutes for Child Abuse and Child Neglect currently do not include the exposure of children to pornographic materials, and this needs to change. While Tennessee's Obscenity Laws do include a Class A Misdemeanor offense for providing minors with pornography, this law is inadequate when it comes to the mental health of children who are being provided with or exposed to pornography. There is ample research available that finds early exposure to inappropriate sexual content will severely damage growth in emotional and sexual maturity. This severe hindrance in development prevents the child from sustaining healthy, intimate relationships as an adult and increases the likelihood of crimes of a sexual nature in adulthood.