Store separating kids' vids, adult fare

ROSWELL, N.M. (KRQE-KBIM) - Some shoppers at the Roswell Hastings store have complained videos intended for children have been shelved within reach of adult movies that fall just short of an X rating.

Angela McClelland is one of those shoppers who takes her 5-year-old daughter Jacquelene to Hastings to rent movies.

While looking for a G-rated movie something much harder was in plain view.

"Nasty, disgusting, not right for kids just to go by and look," McClelland said. "She doesn't need to know about it.

"It is not appropriate for her."

Close at hand were dozens of adult films openly displayed. None had an X rating, but the titles are too graphic to say or show on television.

Some were on the bottom shelf within a child's reach. One popular kids' movie, "Dr. Doolittle," was inches away from the racy videos. Across the aisle there was a movie memorabilia lunchbox next to Playboy videos.

McClelland said she has no problem with mature videos, but there is a place for it.

"There is an adult store in Artesia where they can get the stuff," she said. "They shouldn't even have it in the stores where kids can see it."

KRQE News 13 took these concerns to the Hastings corporate office which expressed as much concern as the parents.

In a statement Hastings said it is against company policy to have mature videos near children's videos or within reach of children. The vice president of divisional merchandise told News 13 he is already taking steps to have the videos moved.

As a result of this story, Hastings is also sending a reminder to all its stores across the country reiterating adult products should not be anywhere near kids' stuff.