Last week, Gov. Katie Hobbs signed into law a ban on sex dolls that look like or resemble children. This bipartisan legislation is part of a years-long international effort, but researchers continue to debate whether these dolls help or hinder pedophilia.
It is now considered a Class 4 felony to have or sell child sex dolls in Arizona. And it’s also a Class 2 felony if one of those dolls resembles an actual child.
HB 2169's sponsor Republican Rep. Quang Nguyen's says these dolls could be "a gateway" to abusing a real child.
“Having sex with a doll that resembles a child is just not something that my mind can even go there," Nguyen said.
According to the National Library of Medicine “very little” is known “about the motivations of those who own child-like dolls, or the effects that such dolls have.” Research on the topic is in its infancy, with some agreeing with Nguyen that it’s a gateway; other research contends the dolls keep real children from being victimized.
The Arizona House of Representatives gave final approval Wednesday to emergency legislation outlawing the possession, sale and importation of sex dolls that resemble children.
