Effective Date
Section effective first day of sixth month which begins after Aug. 12, 1970, see [section 15(b) of Pub. L. 91–375], set out as a note preceding section 101 of this title.
Invasion of Privacy by Mailing of Sexually Oriented Advertisements
[Pub. L. 91–375, § 14], Aug. 12, 1970, [84 Stat. 786], provided that:“(a)
[Congressional findings] The Congress finds—
“(1)
that the United States mails are being used for the indiscriminate dissemination of advertising matter so designed and so presented as to exploit sexual sensationalism for commercial gain;
“(2)
that such matter is profoundly shocking and offensive to many persons who receive it, unsolicited, through the mails;
“(3)
that such use of the mails constitutes a serious threat to the dignity and sanctity of the American home and subjects many persons to an unconscionable and unwarranted intrusion upon their fundamental personal right to privacy;
“(4)
that such use of the mail reduces the ability of responsible parents to protect their minor children from exposure to material which they as parents believe to be harmful to the normal and healthy ethical, mental, and social development of their children; and
“(5)
that the traffic in such offensive advertisements is so large that individual citizens will be helpless to protect their privacy or their families without stronger and more effective Federal controls over the mailing of such matter.
“(b)
[Congressional Determination of Public Policy] On the basis of such findings, the Congress determines that it is contrary to the public policy of the United States for the facilities and services of the United States Postal Service to be used for the distribution of such materials to persons who do not want their privacy invaded in this manner or to persons who wish to protect their minor children from exposure to such material.”
[Provisions of [section 14 of Pub. L. 91–375] effective within 1 year after Aug. 12, 1970, on date established therefor by the Board of Governors and published by it in the Federal Register, see [section 15(a) of Pub. L. 91–375], set out as an Effective Date not preceding section 101 of this title.]