Senator Shealy prefiles bill against possessing of “child-like" sex toys

Columbia, SC 12/14/2020 – Senator Katrina Shealy of Lexington County took an opportunity during the SC State Senate prefile period, on December 9, that would add the practice of buying, selling or possession of figures or robots that resemble a child’s likeness – also known as “child-like sex dolls,” to the state offense for obscenity. She is doing this in conjunction with United States Congressman Jeff Duncan (SC-03) who has taken a similar step at the federal level.

Senator Shealy, the Chairman of the Senate Family & Veterans’ Services Committee, says she planned to file the legislation when she learned of an alarming trend nationwide of the trafficking of child-like dolls, and that many states have not addressed legislation to expressly prohibit the figures intended for use in sexual acts.

“The practice of exploiting children is sickening, and we are going to make it crystal clear that this behavior is not welcome in South Carolina,” Senator Katrina Shealy says. “My hope would be that legislation to address such abhorrent acts would not be needed here, but the disturbing trend has impacted other states; it was time to take a second look at our laws and ensure that children are protected in all areas of predatory acts.”

The 2021 SC Legislative Session is set to begin on the second Tuesday of January.