What is a Man Act?

Question

I heard this many moons ago and was just recently reminded of it again since just seeing the movie. It was said by Jackie Gleason in smokey and the bandit.

Answer 1

old federal law banning the interstate transport of females for “immoral purposes” in the days in which out of marriage sex could be considered a crime. old heavyweight boxing champion Jack Johnson was famously prosecuted under it.
it was not enacted to regulate interstate commerce but the reason you had to cross state lines was to give the federal government jurisdiction under commerce clause of constitution

Answer 2

Mann Act

Answer 3

The Mann Act was enacted in 1910 by Congress to regulate interstate commerce. It's primary and stated intent was to address prostitution, immorality , and human trafficking

Answer 4

This I believe is actually the "Mann Act" and is still a law that can be enforced if the authorities decide to use it against you.

Although its purpose seemed right it treats one kind of an action (transporting) as the crime it attempts to stop rather than making the immoral act as the actual crime. I believe this is a divisive law that needs to be abolished and replaced with laws that address the actual abduction and enslavement of peoples against their will. Traveling across state lines in the United States of America should not be made illegal in any shape or form.

The Mann Act as stated in Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia;
The White-Slave Traffic Act, better known as the Mann Act, is a United States federal law, passed June 25, 1910 (ch. 395, 36 Stat. 825; codified as amended at 18 U.S.C. §§ 2421–2424).
It is named after Congressman James Robert Mann of Illinois, and in its original form made it a felony to engage in interstate or foreign commerce transport of "any woman or girl for the purpose of prostitution or debauchery, or for any other immoral purpose". Its primary stated intent was to address prostitution, "immorality", and human trafficking particularly where it was trafficking for the purposes of prostitution. This is one of several acts of protective legislation aimed at moral reform during the progressive era. Its ambiguous language of "immorality" allowed prosecutions for many years, and was used to criminalize consensual sexual behavior. [1] It was amended by Congress in 1978 and again in 1986 to apply to transport for the purpose of prostitution or illegal sexual acts.[2]

Answer 5

You mean the Mann Act. A law enacted in 1910 to counteract so-called "white slavery". It prohibits crossing state lines to encourage or commit prostitution or for any immoral sexual purpose.