S-2421 is headed to Phil Murphy’s desk, Save Jerseyans, and when signed will effectively limit local control over smut populating the bookshelves of public libraries and your children’s school library.
As the bill’s explanatory statement explains, “[b]oards of education and governing boards of public libraries are not to exclude library material from the library because of the origin, background, or views of the library material or those contributing to its creation. Boards of education and governing boards of public libraries are not permitted to engage in censorship. Students and residents are to be able to reserve or check out any developmentally appropriate library material, including diverse and inclusive material.”
Most of the GOP caucus in both chambers opposed the bill but were easily overpowered by the Democrat majority.
“If parents need to provide consent for their child to view explicit material at the movies or when purchasing certain video games, why should it be any different when obscene material is checked out at a school or public library?” Sen. James Holzapfel (R-Ocean) complained in a recent statement on the legislation. “The language of this bill weakens the discretion that community members and local school boards have to decide what’s best for their children and students. Under no circumstance should minors be given explicit or obscene material without the consent of their parent or guardian.”
But the LD21 Republican delegation led by State Senator Jon Bramnick, a 2025 gubernatorial candidate, supported the pro-grooming bill which would protect graphically sexual books like Gender Queer from being removed from children’s reading sections.
“We no longer need the Wild Wild West in our libraries,” complained Bramnick in his floor remarks.
Here’s his speech:
Are you a parent for parental rights?@JonBramnick just sank his chances of ever getting your vote for Governor by supporting S2421 (Freedom to Read), even refers to his friend (Zwicker) across the aisle
The standard was already put into place with the obscenity law, giving… https://t.co/wktWIqCSe8 pic.twitter.com/w0TyutOGoN
— ☕ Wαƙҽ Uρ NJ (@wakeupnj) October 28, 2024