Legislator wants to ban childlike sex dolls

No federal law, but Florida, Tennessee outlawed such devices.

A Georgia Democratic lawmaker wants to outlaw the sale and possession of childlike sex dolls.

State Sen. Lester Jackson, a Savannah Democrat, said the aim is to keep the sex dolls and robots out of the hands of pedophiles.

“There is no evidence that child sex dolls curb the need (of a pedophile to solicit) child prostitution in this state,” he told a panel of lawmakers Monday.

“Pedophiles are often detached from their own humanity. Possessing a doll or machine would not address the underlying issue.”

The Senate Judiciary Committee heard testimony on the proposal, Senate Bill 332, but did not vote.

There is no federal law banning the dolls, but Florida and Tennessee last year passed similar legislation.

Jackson said the FBI recently intercepted more than 200 child sex dolls being shipped into Georgia.

“They are already here,” he said. “They are being sold on the internet and all over the world.”

If approved, someone who is found guilty of possessing a childlike sex doll or robot could face one to five years in prison or a fine up to $10,000. Someone convicted of selling, lending or giving away a childlike sex doll would face one to 10 years in prison or a fine up to $25,000.

The panel also heard Senate Bill 331, proposed by Cataula Republican state Sen. Randy Robertson, which would make it illegal for someone to possess images of naked or nearly naked children posing in a sexually suggestive manner with the “intent to arouse or satisfy sexual desire.”

Under current law, possession of such images is only illegal if the children are engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

The panel did not vote on the proposal.