May 3, 2023
Porn and Our Kids–It Is a Big Deal!
By: Former Representative Karey Hanks
Why can’t Idaho protect kids in the simplest of circumstances–by not giving them access to sketchy, even pornographic materials in public libraries and schools? The Idaho legislature adjourned in early April after failing to override Governor Little’s veto of HB314, which would have prevented libraries from providing easily accessible obscene/pornographic materials to children.
But aren’t parents responsible for their children and the books they choose? Of course, but what about the child sitting next to yours on the bus or in the classroom with “Gender Queer” open for all to see? And how does this obscenity affect this classmate’s developing brain, and interactions with fellow students?
We have laws protecting children from alcohol and tobacco, tanning and tattooing, and R-rated movies. Why should libraries be immune? While many librarians conscientiously serve our children with great books and activities in public and school libraries and uphold community standards to protect our youth from this evil, many examples of the opposite have been exposed in legislative committee hearings and school board meetings.
We’re not talking about books on reproduction or The Bible, but books that do not meet the criteria often cited in Miller v. California, where The Supreme Court established this standard for harmful materials:
- whether the average person applying contemporary community standards would find the work, taken as a whole, appeals to the prurient interest;
- whether the work depicts or describes, in a patently offensive way, sexual conduct specifically defined by the applicable state law; and
- whether the work, taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value.
Books such as “Gender Queer” or “It’s Perfectly Normal” depict sex acts in drawings and “cartoon” representations. Older childrens’ chapter books (such as “All Boys Aren’t Blue”) have passages that are arguably obscene and lacking “value.”
Availability of pornographic materials to minors is only a fraction of what is occurring in our nation and state. Leaders cannot or will not even define, “What is a woman?” Reports are popping up of Pride/Drag events in Rexburg, Idaho Falls, and Victor this summer; coaches and teachers are caught preying on students in a few of our schools. Child sex predators ARE here in Idaho, and their goal is to normalize sex with our minor children. Are we and our youth being conditioned to accept these alternate lifestyles and the accompanying perversion?
Founding Father John Adams remarked, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” Religion and morality are the foundation of our Constitutional republic and basic society, which are breaking down as good people do not speak up for these principles.
Yes, we are busy doing good things. We spend time with our families at sporting events and other worthy uses of our time. But we are experiencing what was in the past a gradual, and now seemingly sudden, downward spiral of our community standards and a marked change in our Christian moral culture.
WHAT ARE WE, AS PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS AND CONCERNED CITIZENS TO DO ABOUT THIS?
Our children are under attack, and we must engage in this spiritual battle–for that is exactly what it is. Restore or strengthen your spiritual moorings–”get good with God,” and strengthen your family as well. Attend school board meetings or run for the school board; check into your children’s curriculum; join like minded friends and neighbors in supporting good candidates for office; join groups that are active in good causes and learn how to help; get on the local library board; check out your legislators’ voting records.
Use your skills to make a positive difference in your community. Evil succeeds when good people do nothing. The time is now to stand against evil and fight for our children and their future.
