Legal Times: Old and New, Alaska Aaron Sperbeck and Anime

Introduction to Legal Times: Old and New

The state prosecutor of Alaska, Aaron Sperbeck, wants to ban anime that involves children in sexual situations. According to The Anchorage Daily News, "The fight needs to happen," said Aaron Sperbeck, the crimes-against-children prosecutor in the Anchorage District Attorney's Office who is behind the idea. "(The images) are almost as graphic and disturbing as real children. We need to get the conversation going." His idea of making it as illegal as actual photographs is supported by the House Judiciary Chair Representative Jay Ramras, R-Fairbanks. However, the idea is not well supported by free speech advocates. According to The Anchorage Daily News, Joan Bertin, who is the executive director of the National Coalition Against Censorship in New York said"That represents someone's fantasy life...When you start regulating that kind of matter, you are getting into thought control and that is very dangerous."