Anthony Comstock

Anthony Comstock was a 19th-century American activist known for his strong opposition to the distribution of obscene materials and activities he considered immoral. As a postal inspector and founder of the Society for the Suppression of Vice, he played a key role in laws that criminalized the mailing of pornography and related content. Comstock’s efforts led to the passage of the Comstock Law in 1873, which restricted the circulation of contraceptives, abortion information, and other materials he deemed immoral. His work significantly influenced American morality laws and the regulation of vice, reflecting the social attitudes of his time.