 One result of the furor was the firing of five radio DJs who had encouraged listeners to search for backward messages in their record collections . A more serious consequence was legislation by the state governments of Arkansas and California . The 1983 California bill was introduced to prevent backmasking that " can manipulate our behavior without our knowledge or consent and turn us into disciples of the Antichrist " . Involved in the discussion on the bill was a California State Assembly Consumer Protection and Toxic Materials Committee hearing , during which " Stairway to Heaven " was played backwards , and William <unk> testified . The successful bill made the distribution of records with undeclared backmasking an invasion of privacy for which the distributor could be sued . The Arkansas law passed unanimously in 1983 , referenced albums by The Beatles , Pink Floyd , Electric Light Orchestra , Queen and Styx , and mandated that records with backmasking include a warning sticker : " Warning : This record contains backward masking which may be perceptible at a subliminal level when the record is played forward . " However , the bill was returned to the state senate by Governor Bill Clinton and defeated . House Resolution <unk> , introduced in 1982 by Representative Bob Dornan ( R @-@ California ) , proposed mandating a similar label ; the bill was referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce , Transportation and Tourism and was never passed . Government action was also called for in the legislatures of Texas and Canada . 
