Adult business ordinance walks fine line between regulation, First Amendment

Jan Kruse and Julie Ruenger discuss their protest of Cirilla's on June 28 with a Jefferson City police officer. The two are among those who spoke at last week's City Council meeting, complaining about the business and asking officials to remove it.
Jan Kruse and Julie Ruenger discuss their protest of Cirilla's on June 28 with a Jefferson City police officer. The two are among those who spoke at last week's City Council meeting, complaining about the business and asking officials to remove it.

Some residents who oppose Cirilla's, a new store in Jefferson City, have questioned how the city could give a business license to a store that sells sex toys and X-rated movies, among other things.

The answer lies in a chapter of City Code that was enacted by the City Council in 1996.

Before 1996, Jefferson City and other cities regulated strip clubs through liquor licenses, but then the concept of "juice bars" began to ....