Have you ever seen a baby pigeon?

Just because you haven't, doesn't mean they don't exist.

In the Idaho Legislature, there has been ongoing debate on bills aimed at prohibiting the distribution of harmful materials to children. House Bill 314, The School and Library Protection Act, would safeguard children from accessing obscene material in libraries and schools. It did not advocate for censorship but ensured that minors were not exposed to explicit content deemed harmful and inappropriate for their age group.

The governor vetoed H314, and the House fell one vote short of overriding the veto.

As the legislature continues to have difficulty getting bills to protect kids from objectional material passed, parents have taken matters into their own hands. They attend school and library board meetings to address their concerns about harmful materials reaching children. These parents express worries and advocate for stricter policies and safeguards to protect children from accessing inappropriate content. They actively work to remove unresponsive trustees and support board members who prioritize children's well-being and safety. Their engagement demonstrates their strong commitment to creating a safe and suitable learning environment for their children.

We saw this play out in several districts across the state. The race for two seats on the Community Library Network board in north Idaho became highly contentious, with the central focus being the debate over what kinds of materials should be available in public libraries. The winners were those who pledged to protect children from harmful materials in libraries.

Recently, Representative Tony Wisniewski attended the swearing-in of the newly elected Community Library Network Trustees.

He made a good point by asking if anyone had seen a baby pigeon. (Have you?) Just because you haven't seen something yourself doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Many people claim they haven't seen objectionable materials, but that doesn't mean they aren't real or aren’t in our libraries.

“We’re not talking about censorship here; we’re talking about keeping inappropriate material from children. Period. End of story.”

Rep. Wisniewski set the record straight, stating that the advocates for library system reforms are not a small group. He highlighted that 46 out of 70 House members, comprising a 65% majority (just one vote short of a supermajority), voted to override the governor's veto. The representatives are elected from 35 districts in the state and represent the voices of 1 million voters. The support for reform extends far beyond a small faction.

It's clear that there is a strong commitment to keeping objectionable materials out of libraries, and the Idaho Freedom Caucus will continue to lead the way.

We thank Representative Wisniewski for standing up for parents and their concerns. His support strengthens our efforts to protect children.