Possible compromise in legislative effort to restrict library access to sexually explicit materials

Image by WDAY News First staff
Image by WDAY News First staff

(Fargo, ND) -- A North Dakota state representative is updating legislative efforts aimed at preventing children from accessing sexually explicit materials at the state's public libraries. 

"There was a bill in the senate, bill in the house. I do think one of those bills is going to get at least massaged to the very point where it's going to do what its, what it was initially intended to do, which is let's keep objectionable material away from the most vulnerable young kids," said District 27 State Representative Greg Stemen while discussing HB 1205 and SB 2360. 

The representative says lawmakers don't want to infringe on the First Amendment.

He said a compromise could involve not removing certain books from libraries, but instead putting them in sections of libraries that children aren't allowed to access.  

Both bills have passed their respective chambers with veto-proof majorities. 

Opponents say the bills amount to censorship. 

Stemen made the comments while appearing on "What's on Your Mind" on AM 1100 The Flag.