VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Several libraries across the state of North Dakota held a “Read-Out” to protest Senate Bill (SB) 2307.
The bill addresses obscenity control in an effort to protect minors from “sexually explicit” material on display at public and school libraries. It calls for the removal of any “sexually explicit” material in the library to an area not easily accessible to minors. The bill allows any person wishing to challenge the library board over sexually questionable material. It also calls for library funds to be suspended if the library does not comply with the States Attorney’s decision and for a misdemeanor penalty to anyone determined to have not followed the law. Any librarian or board member may be prosecuted for failure to comply with the law by the States Attorney.
The bill could eliminate most if not all digital resources, including the Libby app since the bill proposed requires a method of age verification and some libraries could not afford to have those types of systems in place.
In response to this bill, Right to Read ND organized a “READ-OUT” event on Saturday, March 1st across the state. Several people sat in lawn chairs and read in silence outside to show their support for the library and as they said, your right to read.
One of the protesters of Senate Bill (SB) 2307 is former State Representative Phil Mueller.
The protesters encouraged citizens who are opposed to Senate Bill (SB) 2307 to contact your District 24 State Representatives Daniel Johnston and Dwight Kiefert as well as State Senator Mike Wobbema who voted in favor of the bill. Wobbema talked about why his support this bill.
The bill passed 27 to 20 in the North Dakota Senate, it now goes to the House for further testimony and review.
The full interview with Phil Mueller is below.
For more details about this bill and other visit legis.gov
