Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, June 16, 1990                   TAG: 9006160406
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B4   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: MANASSAS                                LENGTH: Medium

VA. COUNTY BANS SALE OF RECORDS TO MINORS

Wednesday's action was based in part on a Virginia law which prohibits the sale of sexually explicit sound recordings to children, Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney John Notarantonio said.

Merchants have been told to place the recordings behind the counter where they can control sales to minors.

The action came after several parents complained to the Prince William Police Department and the office of the commonwealth's attorney about the sexually explicit lyrics sung by rap group 2 Live Crew, said Lt. Ronald Sullins, of the Prince William vice and narcotics squad.

The tape gained national attention after a U.S. District Judge in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., last week ruled that it is obscene. The ruling prompted authorities in Florida to charge 2 Live Crew with giving an obscene performance after the group's appearance at a nightclub.

The group performed a clean version of its show Thursday night in Georgia. Georgia authorities say the tape violates that state's obscenity laws because it contains graphic descriptions of intercourse and sodomy.

Controversy about the tape, has boosted sales in record shops all over the county, shop employees said.

Waxie Maxie record store in Woodbridge sold five $8.99 copies of the tape Thursday during the first four hours of business, assistant manager Chris Rasley said.

"We did not sell very many before all this happened," he said. "This is going to make the thing go gold, I'm sure."

Some parents seem to ignore a warning on the recording's label that says "explicit language contained," said Diane Cox, an employee at Wall to Wall Sound and Video in Potomac Mills mall.

"I've had parents come in and buy it for their kids," she said.

Shelving one rap band will not solve the problem, she said.

"That is not the only vulgar group that we sell," she said. "In my opinion, if you censor one, you should censor them all."

Currently the rap group's recording is the only one the office of the commonwealth's attorney has restricted from minors, Notarantonio said.

The office will deal with sound recordings on a "case-by-case basis depending on the complaints we get," he said.