State Sen. Arthur Orr is echoing concern by Gov. Kay Ivey about what is being displayed in the children’s section of some libraries in Alabama.
“Especially given libraries’ importance to society, I have grown increasingly concerned due to recent reports calling into question whether our own libraries here in Alabama are most effectively fulfilling this important mission,” Ivey said in a letter to Dr. Nancy Pack, director of the Alabama Public Library Service.
Orr (R-Decatur) discussed the issue Friday on WVNN’s “The Dale Jackson Show.”
“I think they’re going to realize that the light bills and the books and the salaries don’t get paid without the funding,” Orr said. “They are about to get so far our on the limb that the limb is going to be sawed off, and it’ll be ‘well good luck if you want to double down in trying to cram this porn down kids’ minds and what not and won’t listen to parents and people in the community.'”
The senator said these parents have a right to be concerned about what their children are exposed to in libraries.
“You think that you’re standing against book burners and people with pitchforks and knives that are half crazy, that’s not it,” he said. “It’s parents who want to defend and control what their children see and they shouldn’t have to worry about sending them in the children’s section of the library and worry that they’re going to stumble across books that are just totally revolting for a 10-year-old to be reading.”
Orr also warned what could happen in the long run if they cut off the funding for some of the libraries.
“Here’s what’s going to happen, though,” he said. “If we cut them off, liberal foundations and groups from around the country will come in and start supporting Alabama libraries under the guise that they’re helping support libraries and get information out there.”
Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on Twitter @Yaffee
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