Some lawmakers in Staunton are trying to stop an adult business from moving into the Queen City, but their efforts may be too late.

The Staunton Republican Committee hosted a forum Tuesday night to describe the dangers of pornography. Residents have expressed outrage, but they also face a constitutional battle to keep the store out.

Staunton currently does not have an ordinance to regulate adult businesses, so the Queen City can't stop the business from opening. However, they may be able to influence the store's reach in the community.

Councilman Dickie Bell notes a lack of foresight.

"The proposed business, I can only presume, is about to open," says Bell. "It can't be touched by some of our zoning ordinances. There's nothing we can do about those zoning ordinances."

There was nothing in place to keep an adult store from operating in the Queen City.

"I'm going to take some responsibility for it, as my colleagues have to, and as our planning staff and zoning people need to," says Bell. "Everybody associated with the city has to take some responsibility for not making sure that this couldn't happen."

City Attorney Douglas Guynn suggests a correction for the future.

"We are operating underneath the shadow of the U.S. Constitution, and while we can certainly impose reasonable time, place, and manner of restriction, we have to do it in such a way that it reflects our interests," says Guynn.

Andrea Oaks urges everyone to keep signing the petitions, even though what's done is done.

"By signing the petitions, lobbying our City Council and letting them know that, no, we do not want this. This is our city, this is a Constitution that works for us, as well as it does for pornography shops."

"If you're zoned for business, you're zoned for business," says Eric Milnes, a Staunton resident.

"I don't want these kinds of people in the area and I'm not talking about the ones they'll bring in; I'm talking about the ones that'll start this store," says Betsy Knott. "Do we go out and picket this place? Do we go out and let them know that we don't want it? We certainly don't!"

While residents may have to deal with an adult store moving into the neighborhood, Bell says the problem will have to be fixed in the future.