“The will of the people is the only legitimate foundation of any government, and to protect its free expression should be our first object.” Thomas Jefferson
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. ”Martin Luther King Jr.
"First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left
to speak out for me."
Pastor Martin Niemöller
"The true danger is when liberty is nibbled away, for expedients, and by parts." Edmund Burke
“Those who deny freedom to others, deserve it not for themselves.”
Abraham Lincoln
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations."James Madison
"Experience should teach us to be most on our guard to protect liberty when the Government's purposes are beneficent. The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well-meaning but without understanding." Louis Dembitz Brandeis
"Men fight for liberty and win it with hard knocks. Their children, brought up easy, let it slip away again, poor fools. And their grandchildren are once more slaves." D.H. Lawrence
“Entire nations have been carted off in boxcars and slaughtered under the pretense of higher morality and purer standards.”Ray Guhn
“Censorship is easily recognized when it attacks us in the form of a war-monger like Hitler. However, it is harder to recognize when it conceals itself as a silent pen stroke on paper that forever erases our Freedom.”Ray Guhn
Trial Set for Landmark Ray Guhn Case
(PENSACOLA Florida) The well known webmaster Ray Guhn (aka Clinton McCowen) was arrested on June 23rd 2006 by the Escambia County Sheriff's Office and charged with Obscenity, Racketeering, and recently amended to include Money Laundering (for the receipt of money from the adult website operation) which, all together, could result in 90 years prison if convicted. These Racketeering allegations have alarmed those in the adult industry because they are not only based on claims that the content is obscene, but also that consenting adult actors, male and female, who are paid to perform in the production of adult materials are prostitutes, thus claiming that the production of adult content is the promotion of prostitution.
Ray Guhn and his legal team's position is that the First Amendment applies equally to all citizens throughout the nation, including citizens working in the adult industry. There are no geographic locations within the United States where the First Amendment applies more, or less, compared to other geographic locations within the United States.
If the Prosecutor is successful, Censors eager to suppress freedom of expression can be expected to use this case as precedent and encouragement for a nationwide 'witch hunt' filing similar charges against Producers, Directors, Webmasters, Hosting companies, Performers, Actors, Cable and Television companies, and anyone benefiting monetarily from the adult industry. Ray Guhn has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars defending his First Amendment rights, which also helps to defend the rights of all Americans including those in the adult industry. Many understand this case against Ray Guhn to be a frontal assault against free-thinking Americans by censorial interests intent on forcing their view of morality on the entire country. The Court has set aside 14 days to hear this landmark case, starting on June 30th, 2008.
Ray Guhn’s 1st Public Comment
After a year of quietly observing the Prosecutor’s approach, Ray Guhn speaks publicly about the case for the first time.
The First Amendment is under attack by an Escambia Prosecutor who has demonstrated no ethical concern creating charges based on his personal opinion of morality. The Prosecutor is using his position of power and trust in an attempt to legislate his version of morality on the rest of the nation. This misuse of authority is wrong, contrary to our Constitution, and bad for our country. I am not guilty of any of the charges filed against me. The worst offense on my record is a speeding ticket. Concerning legality of the website, proof of legal age and compliance for the actors are on record clearly and legally establishing them as performers, not prostitutes, according to Federal Law. Taxes are fully paid. There has been no drug distribution or money laundering. 'Piling-on-of-charges' is indicative of a Prosecutor who suspects his original predicate of Obscenity will not withstand a court's scrutiny, so he created additional charges, a year after my arrest, hoping that 'something' might stick. The Prosecutor currently allows extremely graphic hard-core adult sex magazines available for purchase in many convenience stores as well as extreme hard-core pay-per-view sex movies throughout Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties while he simultaneously condemns adult content in the Ray Guhn case! This contradictory behavior appears hypocritical to many average citizens. The hypocrisy, combined with the exploitation of power and flagrant waste of taxpayer dollars is repulsive and nauseating. I've witnessed this level of governmental mismanagement in Communist China, but never thought I'd live to see it happen so openly here in the USA. Another awkward truth the Prosecutor has repeatedly failed to mention to the media/public is that content production for the website stopped in Pensacola YEARS AGO! … due to economic reasons, replaced by more cost effective Producers in other parts of the world. The extraordinary amount of tax payer's dollars the Prosecutor and staff continue to waste in the several years long pursuit to prosecute consenting adults for non-crimes that happened many years ago, would better be spent on battling the current murders, shootings, rapes, mysterious deaths, child abuse, drug trafficking, political corruption, law-enforcement misconduct, and violent crime reported in Escambia County. Concerned citizens of Pensacola (Escambia County) recently organized a public rally marching through the streets, carrying banners, bringing media attention to the fact that crime levels in parts of Pensacola remain dangerously out of control. Meanwhile, the Prosecutor continues his year's long pursuit of a non-violent victimless internet case, while violent crime flourishes in an area he is entrusted to help protect. Reminds me of Nero playing the fiddle while Rome burns. After a year of prosecuting my case of Obscenity and Racketeering in Escambia County, the Prosecutor decided to try his luck in moving the case to another county by dropping ALL charges in Escambia County and then re-filing the charges including a new claim of Money Laundering in neighboring Santa Rosa County in an act that some attorney's describe as "Venue Shopping", which they regard as ethically questionable. The Prosecutor included the previous Obscenity and Racketeering as part of the Money Laundering charge. If these charges fail to get a conviction in Santa Rosa County, I expect that next he'll charge me with being the man on the grassy knoll in Dallas Texas 1963. One silver-lining to the venue change, the Judge is a retired Military Officer. Patriots such as U.S. soldiers/sailors and Military Officers automatically have my respect . The Prosecutor can not afford to give up on this case. Why? He's squandered much too much taxpayer money to admit he's made a mistake of epic constitutional proportions; he and other associates would likely lose their jobs and careers. The 20 man raid on my home including fully armored SWAT TEAM pointing automatic rifles at my head cost the taxpayers a pretty penny too. I expect the public will never be told the truth about how much taxpayer money has been burned-through over the years on this case, but if a financial figure is ever made public, multiply it at least by 10. Honest Escambia and Santa Rosa Law Enforcement Officers, I am behind you 100%, honest Politicians, I am also behind you 100%, however, I detest any public official who uses position, power and taxpayer's dollars to further a personal agenda or crusade. The government estimates there are 500,000 U.S.A. adult websites available for viewing through your internet computer. This Prosecutor finds himself completely alone in the fact that he is the only Prosecutor in the history of the United States ambitious enough to allege this specific combination of charges in relation to a website. If the "Ray Guhn" site is found to be illegal or obscene, that leaves 499,999 sites left to prosecute… as well as rewriting the First Amendment. I am a United States Citizen, international businessman, taxpayer in good standing, patent owner, and American Patriot. It has been my privilege promoting Democracy, U.S. business and the American way of life in many parts of the World. Through the last decades, I have been involved in many business ventures including electronics, communications, manufacturing, plastics, prototyping, technological research resulting in my patented Wireless Microphone sold in 90 countries, used worldwide by Church Pastors as well as Celebrities such as Miss USA, Bob Hope and a wide spectrum of Country, Grammy, and Rock Stars. My business ventures created many jobs in Florida and elsewhere as recognized by Florida Governor Chiles, Congressman Hutto, the Associated Press and others. Business ventures in which I have invested have conducted (non-adult oriented) business with Wal-Mart, Sears, Spencer Gifts and Disney to name only a few. In the late 90's when the internet was still new to me and to most others too, I invested in a small existing adult website started by a fellow we called Roger. The website showed erotic images comparable to myriads of other existing legal websites and adult magazines. My influence in turning that small legal website into a successful business venture has led to this epic battle between the American people and a sanctimonious Escambia Censor.
Ray Guhn (2nd from right) and American Veterans including WWII at Ray’s annual flag replacement ceremony.“Many heroes, like these my cherished friends, offered up their blood and lives fighting the ultimate Censor, Adolf Hitler. Each year when we hoist up a new flag, we remember the countless brave men and women who sacrificed their lives to preserve our American Freedom. Censorship is easily recognized when it attacks us in the form of a war-monger like Hitler. However, it is harder to recognize when it conceals itself as a silent pen stroke on paper that forever erases our Freedom - Ray Guhn.”
I am committed to winning this case because I and many other patriotic Americans strongly oppose any person who would diminish our collective First Amendment Rights under the pretense of making Florida a better place to live. I've employed an experienced and dedicated legal team, but we need your help to win. A landmark case of this importance is expensive. The Prosecutor's financial resources are virtually limitless by spending our tax dollars, however, mine are not. This Ray Guhn case is where Americans, who are concerned about our eroding Freedoms, join together and draw a line in the sand and tell the Escambia Censor to mind his own business, live his own life, and stop trying to force his personal view of morality on the entire nation. You can help America stay free by donating to the Ray Guhn legal team through any of the easy methods shown on this page. Not a penny goes to me or any other defendant. Donations go directly and only to the Ray Guhn legal team.
If the Censor is successful in denying First Amendment Rights to a group of people associated with the adult industry… which group will be targeted next? Which unpopular political viewpoints or religions might be targeted next? We should take lessons from other countries that permitted their rights to be taken away in the name of making their country a better place, so that we may avoid their fate. Entire nations have been carted off in boxcars and slaughtered under the pretense of higher morality and purer standards. If the devastating power to deny First Amendment Rights to a particular group is established, then every group, and every American, becomes potential targets for future Censors who may not like your particular religious, sexual or political stance. If we allow Pandora's box to be opened by permitting this self appointed morality cop to selectively apply the First Amendment to whom he will, and will not, then nobody, no group, will be immune from future censorship attacks. This case is not about porn, it is about every American's Freedom and whether our First Amendment Rights will survive intact or not. Freedom loving Americans everywhere, whether you agree or disagree with the adult industry, we are all faced with a choice; either we band together now and defeat this assault on our collective Freedom; or sit back and watch key portions of our precious First Amendment Rights, which many thousands have died to protect, perverted by a narcissistic Censor. Join me and other American Patriots and Veterans in the battle to preserve our Liberties by donating directly to the Ray Guhn legal team fighting on the front lines to preserve our Freedoms - Ray Guhn"
All donations go directly and only to the Ray Guhn legal team.
Escambia County. Concerned citizens of Pensacola (Escambia County) recently organized a public rally marching through the streets, carrying banners, bringing media attention to the fact that crime levels in parts of Pensacola remain dangerously out of control. Meanwhile, the Prosecutor continues his year's long pursuit of a non-violent victimless internet case, while violent crime flourishes in an area he is entrusted to help protect. Reminds me of Nero playing the fiddle while Rome burns. After a year of prosecuting my case of Obscenity and Racketeering in Escambia County, the Prosecutor decided to try his luck in moving the case to another county by dropping ALL charges in Escambia County and then re-filing the charges including a new claim of Money Laundering in neighboring Santa Rosa County in an act that some attorney's describe as "Venue Shopping", which they regard as ethically questionable. The Prosecutor included the previous Obscenity and Racketeering as part of the Money Laundering charge. If these charges fail to get a conviction in Santa Rosa County, I expect that next he'll charge me with being the man on the grassy knoll in Dallas Texas 1963. One silver-lining to the venue change, the Judge is a retired Military Officer. Patriots such as U.S. soldiers/sailors and Military Officers automatically have my respect . The Prosecutor can not afford to give up on this case. Why? He's squandered much too much taxpayer money to admit he's made a mistake of epic constitutional proportions; he and other associates 
would likely lose their jobs and careers. The 20 man raid on my home including fully armored SWAT TEAM pointing automatic rifles at my head cost the taxpayers a pretty penny too. I expect the public will never be told the truth about how much taxpayer money has been burned-through over the years on this case, but if a financial figure is ever made public, multiply it at least by 10. Honest Escambia and Santa Rosa Law Enforcement Officers, I am behind you 100%, honest Politicians, I am also behind you 100%, however, I detest any public official who uses position, power and taxpayer's dollars to further a personal agenda or crusade. The government estimates there are 500,000 U.S.A. adult websites available for viewing through your internet computer. This Prosecutor finds himself completely alone in the fact that he is the only Prosecutor in the history of the United States ambitious enough to allege this specific combination of charges in relation to a website. If the "Ray Guhn" site is found to be illegal or obscene, that leaves 499,999 sites left to prosecute… as well as rewriting the First Amendment. I am a United States Citizen, international businessman, taxpayer in good standing, patent owner, and American Patriot. It has been my privilege promoting Democracy, U.S. business and the American way of life in many parts of the World. Through the last decades, I have been involved in many business ventures including electronics, communications, manufacturing, plastics, prototyping, technological research resulting in my patented Wireless Microphone sold in 90 countries, used worldwide by Church Pastors as well as Celebrities such as Miss USA, Bob Hope and a wide spectrum of Country, Grammy, and Rock Stars. My business ventures created many jobs in Florida and elsewhere as recognized by Florida Governor Chiles, Congressman Hutto, the Associated Press and others. Business ventures in which I have invested have conducted (non-adult oriented) business with Wal-Mart, Sears, Spencer Gifts and Disney to name only a few. In the late 90's when the internet was still new to me and to most others too, I invested in a small existing adult website started by a fellow we called Roger. The website showed erotic images comparable to myriads of other existing legal websites and adult magazines. My influence in turning that small legal website into a successful business venture has led to this epic battle between the American people and a sanctimonious Escambia Censor.
