# New Zealand bans YA novel

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-zealand-bans-ya-novel/730513>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [September 10, 2015, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-zealand-bans-ya-novel/730513 "2015-09-10T13:10:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\
**Post date:** [October 14, 2015, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-zealand-bans-ya-novel/730513/41 "2015-10-14T15:00:09Z")

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> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#):
>
> Yes, obscenity does not have first amendment protection.
> 
> This is worthy of a nitpick, though. I’m not aware of any federal laws that ban items nationally even though state and local ones galore exist.
> 
> That doesn’t mean that bans haven’t been placed. The loophole that was once used made it illegal to use the mail to send obscene material. It’s also possible that transporting over a state line could be prosecuted. Bringing in prohibited material through customs was also illegal. But a straight-up national ban hasn’t happened.
> 
> If my memory is wrong, I’d be glad to be corrected.

[**Tony Comstock**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Comstock) didn’t need no steenkin badges:  
_Through his various campaigns, he destroyed 15 tons of books, 284,000 pounds of plates for printing ‘objectionable’ books, and nearly 4,000,000 pictures. Comstock boasted that he was responsible for 4,000 arrests._

He also objected to the language used whilst he was serving in the Union Army.

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