County weighs library ban on sex offenders

Anonymous Patron writes “The Oregonian reports on Clark County (Washington?) commissioners and library leaders who are mulling whether registered sex offenders pose a threat to young library users — and whether libraries should be off-limits to them.

During last week’s meeting of the county board and leaders of the Fort Vancouver Regional Library, Commissioner Marc Boldt introduced the topic by saying he wanted to “chitchat” about Internet filters on library computers. But when the library delegation indicated that the controversy had been resolved, Boldt said he would like to go further.

“What do you do about registered sexual offenders?” he asked.”

March 22, 2005 by Blake Uncategorized 6

GregS* says:

March 22, 2005 at 2:49 am

too far even for me
Personally I think we should have the death penalty for some sex offenders but you can’t ban someone from the library because their ex-cons. It would be better just to have a really really strict Children’s Room policy.

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kylere says:

March 22, 2005 at 3:00 am

In an unprecendented moment
I agree with Greg again today! You cannot remove someones rights entirely because of a previous crime, otherwise we will have to throw out the (wrong IMHO) concept that people can be rehabilitated after commiting a sexual offense against children.

It would make sense to limit adults moving in and out of the childrens areas if possible, but some library layouts would make this difficult if not impossible.

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mdoneil says:

March 22, 2005 at 3:20 am

I think it is a fantastic idea
However it cannot be applied retroactively. It must be a condition of their lifetime parole that they not enter public libraries. If they want information let them request it over the phone and it can be mailed to them at their expense. After all they are the ones who forfeited their right to be among us as a normal person.

Even though I am opposed to the death penalty, if anyone sexually assaulted my (future) children I would beat them to death with my own fists. I may burn in hell for it but I’ll be far better of than any baby rapist ever will be.

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GregS* says:

March 22, 2005 at 5:05 am

Re:I think it is a fantastic idea
But part of those rights have to be reinstituted otherwise they might as well be back in their jail cell.

The library is supposed to be the best source for education and oppurtunities. Cutting them off from that cuts heavily into any opportunity to get back what they lost by going to prison.

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Redcardlibrarian says:

March 22, 2005 at 6:06 am

Clark County
Just to clarify, yes, Clark County is up in Washington. Just North of the border.

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Anonymous Patron says:

March 22, 2005 at 11:43 pm

precisely
If you’ve let them out of jail, you ought to fully restore their rights. If not, you’re just making them into a disadvantaged minority. Which will cause them to become either become victims, or criminals. If you can’t get a job, you’re going to be forced to steal. If you don’t have the rights that most people have, then you will be disadvantaged in any job-search. How will you send out resumes if you walk out of jail with whatever money you had on you when you were arrested 5 years ago, and the clothes on your back if you can’t access free computers to email them? Or even to research what positions might be open?

I think every cop, every judge, and every citizen who wants to vote should have to go thru the arrest procedure, and sit in a holding cell, and maybe even spend some time in jail. That will clean up the system damn fast.

— Ender, Duke_of_URL

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