Law about age-appropriate materials, not censorship

Opposition and protests against Idaho’s Library Act Number 710 leave me baffled and wondering if the opposition has actually read the law.  Have you?

Opponents shout transphobia and homophobia as drivers of the law.  The law makes no mention of transgender and only scant reference to the latter and only in the context of stating materials displaying images or details of sexual conduct, either hetero or homosexual in nature, are inappropriate materials for the children section of the library.  Do you disagree with the idea that a four-year-old should not be able to randomly find such images in the children’s section of a school or library?  These same people accuse the law of being a form of censorship, which is either an intentional misrepresentation or proof of their ignorance of the actual law.  Not a single item will be removed from a library as a result of this law.  This law is about age-appropriate materials and is no more about censorship than laws limiting access to cigarettes, alcohol, or firearms to minors are about violating human rights.  Thirdly, opponents say they trust their librarians.  Why?  Are not librarians human beings with varying views and with the potential to foster agendas either to the left or the right?  Should parents and the public not have a check on such?

If a parent wishes to instruct their five-year-old on various sexual positions, sadomasochism, or torture, they are free to borrow such materials from the adult section of the library and share them with their children.  This law does nothing to interfere with this possibility.  Rather it gives the public the ability to request such materials not be available in the children’s section.

DAVID BARNES

Sandpoint