Carthage, Missouri- To some residents and city officials, Family Video is misnamed.
When Carthage’s newest video store opened its doors last Friday, residents were expecting a rental experience that paralleled its name. The company advertised free kids and education videos. But residents soon became aware of another type of video that lurked uncomfortably in the back of the store — X-rated adult videos.
“The name of Family Video is misleading to the community,” said J.P. Wilson, president of the Carthage Christian Ministerial Alliance. “By offering that kind of entertainment, it’s not building up the morals of the family.
Wilson said that the ministerial association will discuss the the store’s adult videos at it’s next meeting. He said it has been a topic of discussion among some ministers.
“I went there (to the store) this afternoon because I am already getting questions from citizens,” said Police Chief Dennis Veach. “They do have adult videos in the back — explicit, hardcore videos.
“I know the city objected formally to them bringing it here, not to the business per se but to the pornography.”
Mayor Kenneth Johnson sent a letter to the company’s founder — Charles Hoogland — on Oct. 14, expressing his concerns and the concerns of some residents.
“I am saddened to learn that Family Video will be selling and renting X-rated videos,” Johnson said in the letter. “As word of this has spread around the community, I have had numerous phone calls expressing shock over this aspect of the proposed operations. These individuals have also expressed concern over the misleading name of a business billed as “family” selling these types of movies.
“Having lived in Carthage for over sixty (60) years, I can tell you that our community’s standards are higher than what you might encounter elsewhere and does not appreciate this segment of the video business.”
The problem for those with objections is that Family Video is acting within the law.
“It has been researched by the city attorney and us and it is believed to be within the law, at this point ,” Veach said.
“Local government doesn’t feel it has a place in the community as a distributor of pornography. It would appear that the community will have to vote with its pocketbooks.”
Roger Rubright, regional manager for Family Video, said the Springfield-based chain has an adult section in all its stores, “except where it’s not allowed by law.”
Attorney Tim Reynolds was contacted about the mayor’s letter and was not aware of it. He said he would get back with the Press as soon as he had reviewed it.