Today, Gov. Kelly Armstrong vetoed Senate Bill 2307, legislation that would have required most libraries in the state to keep material some define as “obscene” in areas that are difficult for minors to access.
The ACLU of North Dakota opposed Senate Bill 2307. Moving books to a less accessible section for their intended readers is censorship. Additionally, librarians would have been at risk of criminal prosecution for doing their jobs and North Dakota taxpayers would have been on the hook for nearly $2 million over the next few years to comply with the bill.
The following statement can be attributed to Cody Schuler, ACLU of North Dakota advocacy manager:
“Senate Bill 2307 was a deeply flawed bill. Parents already have the ability to monitor and direct what books their kids read and have access to. We don’t need to substitute state control for parental judgement. We don’t need to be censoring books.
“Each of us gets to choose what books we read and what information we access — but we don’t get to choose for other people. Everyone should have the freedom to read. We’re glad that Gov. Armstrong agrees.”
About the ACLU of North Dakota
The American Civil Liberties Union of North Dakota is a non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of civil liberties and civil rights. The ACLU of North Dakota is part of a three-state chapter that also includes South Dakota and Wyoming. The team in North Dakota is supported by staff in those states.
The ACLU believes freedoms of press, speech, assembly and religion, and the rights to due process, equal protection and privacy, are fundamental to a free people. In addition, the ACLU seeks to advance constitutional protections for groups traditionally denied their rights, including people of color, women and LGBTQ+ and Two Spirit communities. The ACLU of North Dakota carries out its work through selective litigation, lobbying at the state and local level, and through public education and awareness of what the Bill of Rights means for the people of North Dakota.
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