Paulette Nelson, Minot

House Bill 1205 (relating to public libraries from maintaining explicit sexual material) and Senate Bill2360 (relating to obscenity control, and to provide a penalty for librarians whose libraries contain these supposedly obscene materials) will effectively ban books that I or someone else might want to read. For example, I may want to check out the Bible but if this bill passes as written, libraries will have to remove this book because of all the references to torture, nudity, (they are okay with murder), incest, idolatry, and unwed pregnancy to name a few.

Some may think that they are shielding their children from LGBTQ content or race related themes but often they have no problem with extreme violence and sexual context on television or video games. Books provide answers to those children who are questioning their sexuality or provide comfort to children who might be bullied because of race. Often times they object to language in a book but have they ever visited an elementary play ground or junior high locker room. I dare say there is language that is far worse than can be found in any library book.

Book banning is not about protecting children as many want us to believe. It is about the political views of their parents. Parents have always had the right to decide what their own child may read but they should not be able to decide what is best for every other child. Neither should legislators be able to decide this basic right to read.

There are already laws in place that make it a misdemeanor to provide obscene materials to minors. And for that matter what are obscene materials anyway? Seems like it is in the eye of the beholder. Furthermore, librarians take a great amount of care to put quality materials on their shelves. They abide by a selection policy (ask your local librarian to see a copy of their selection policy) determined by each library board in North Dakota. I know from experience that librarians review many sources before a book is placed on the shelves. Sometimes the content is difficult but many times in my career I was approached by parents needing books to explain these difficult situations to their child. Books on sex, puberty, death, suicide, alternative life styles to name a few. Thank goodness I was able to provide these books to them so that they could have guidance in explaining these situations to their child. Taking these books off the shelves will not solve any problems but perhaps invite more. Since the library is all inclusive perhaps children who have questions will be able to find answers at their local library.

I would like to close with a quote from Robert A. Heinkin, Science Fiction Author, “When any government or church for that matter, undertakes to say to its subjects, this you may not read, this you may not see, this you are forbidden to know, the end result is tyranny and oppression no matter how holy the motive.” Please, please contact your legislator and let them know these bills are not in the best interest of North Dakotans.