After national backlash, Florida lawmakers eye changes to book restrictions
ALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida’s Republican-controlled Legislature wanted to keep obscene books out of the hands of kids. But some are now acknowledging they created a “logistical nightmare” that lawmakers are trying to rein in.
Legislators this month introduced a new idea to curb frivolous challenges to books — one of the first admissions the law, which tightened scrutiny around books with sexual content in K-12 schools, may have gone too far. The potential solution: allowing local schools to charge some people a $100 fee if they want to object to more than five books.
“I’m happy that we are digging in and trying to remove reading material that is inappropriate for our children,” said state Rep. Dana Trabulsy, a Republican from Fort Pierce who is sponsoring the legislation. “But I think [book challengers] really need to be respectful of the amount of books that they are pouring into schools at one time.”
Florida’s Legislature in 2023 expanded education transparency laws by requiring books considered pornographic, harmful to minors or that depict sexual activity to be pulled from shelves within five days and remain out of circulation for the duration of any challenge. If school officials deem a book inappropriate, it can be permanently removed from circulation or restricted to certain grade levels.
The law caused a national outcry after local schools received hundreds of challenges to a wide range of books, leading to reviews of titles like Ernest Hemingway’s “For Whom the Bell Tolls” and “And Tango Makes Three,” a kids book about a penguin family with two dads. It’s also led to multiple lawsuits against top education officials and local school boards asserting that the restrictions violate free speech. Florida, according to the free speech advocacy group PEN America, has “banned” more books than any other state — some 1,406 works total.
Even conservative pundit Bill O’Reilly derided the law after school officials in Escambia County removed two of his books — Killing Jesus: A History” and “Killing Reagan: The Violent Assault That Changed a Presidency” — pending a review for possible sexual conduct. O’Reilly told Newsweek he implored the state and Gov. Ron DeSantis to take action because the policy is “far too nebulous in Tallahassee” and needs to be “tightened up.”
LINK TO SEEDED ARTICLE: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/after-national-backlash-florida-lawmakers-eye-changes-to-book-restrictions/ar-BB1gXp0l?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=607dc7f85f014e4bb029a7ea61762c56&ei=18
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DeSantis is too busy losing the presidential primary to be bothered with this.
from great white GOP hope to just another GOP dope...
He laid off more of his campaign staff the other day.
2nd place may mean headlining the GOP ticket, if their primary winner is in jail...
did you see on the news that another moms for liberty bimbo got popped for shoplifting at target?
I am convinced that the current GOP would continue with Trump even if convicted of a felony.
Didn't see that but it can't be true since they believe that they are in charge of telling us what is moral and what isn't. /s
Without a doubt.
... currently, I agree. at this point the emotional investment combined with blind loyalty empowers them with the ability to mentally justify any end run around logic and reason. trump has tapped into a segment of voters that 7 years ago were invisible to political science, the pathologically flawed voter.
Gee, what a shocker. These phonier than thou hypocrites are always the ones with the nastiest skeletons in their closets, the first ones caught with their pants down, or with dead hookers, little boys, little girls. Freaking amoral hypocrite scum.
The former 'president's' 'attorneys' are abandoning him in droves and the one who has stuck around, is like she has no knowledge of the law or experience whatsoever.
Am I crazy or did I see somewhere where they are banning the dictionary and thesaurus?
stephen colbert monologue...
I'm not, it was in Escambia County, FL
Webster's Dictionary and Thesaurus for Students
With Full Color World Atlas
BANNED
Unreal
Wow, banning the dictionary, the next step to a country that will be illiterate.
Welcome to ''Hickory Hollar''
Of course banning a dictionary is silly, but I can't remember the last time that I used a paper version instead of one online.
Someone will aways come along and defend the indefensible
[deleted]
What's the problem?
He won't be.
I think he will be because of the location of some of the trials, however, the appellate courts would rightfully overturn the convictions.
How can you possibly be so confident? His indictments are based on merit with substantial supporting evidence.
Do you actually believe Trump did not do what he is accused of doing?
The location? How about the merits of the case? Do you think Trump did not engage in the wrongdoings of which he is accused?
No they are not.
No I don't. He hasn't been convicted of anything except a he said, she said sham trial.
Why do you mention the lack of conviction when I made no claim that he was convicted? There are three key trials regarding Trump's behavior as PotUS. (44 federal felony charges.) All of these trials are in formulative stages and thus have not produced a verdict.
You simply declare that none of the indictments have merit. You simply 'believe' Trump has done no wrong.
So, for example, you (inexplicably) believe that Jack Smith just invented the allegation that Trump engaged in a scheme of creating fake electors in seven states (Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin). That these electors went through the same process as legitimate electors, signed the same documents, etc. That Trump's team attempted to coerce officials such as former Speaker of the AZ House Rusty Bowers to submit his fake electors.
Similarly you apparently believe that Trump did not try to suborn Pence to violate the CotUS by tabling the certified votes from select states where he won in an attempt to cease the official counting of votes and force Congress to resolve the matter with the hope that (somehow) the fake electors would be chosen over the legitimate electors. What do you think Trump was referring to when he claimed that Pence let them down?
This, Greg, is a historically unique situation where a PotUS actually attempted to steal a US election. He attempted to violate the CotUS which he swore to preserve, protect, and defend. He attempted to circumvent the foundation of democracy — the vote of the electorate.
The evidence is substantial. The testimonies of high-ranking Republicans who risked their political careers by testifying against Trump are also in play.
Yet you merely declare that all 91 criminal charges in his indictments are without merit.
You offer: nuh uh.
apparently trump's fight in the courts for full immunity from his criminal activities isn't convincing...
I remain amazed at the crazy shit Trump attempts. Go back to the Big Lie campaign. What kind of special craziness causes someone to believe that he can literally violate the CotUS with a fake elector scheme and somehow cause Congress to deem him the winner and then get away with that?
They DON'T CARE what was meant. Trumpsters, in the political sense, are not redeemable and we should stop trying to reason with THEM. We should try and reason with people who have not yet drank that kool-aid. We cant go around trying to pump the stomachs of everyone who has.
On the face of it we live in a country where a sizeable percentage of the population shows signs of inhabiting, by choice, an idiocracy. We have to write the idiots off, not as human beings, but as rational actors in the political sense.
As I have noted before, I do not try to reason with Trump supporters. I point out the flaws in their claims (and 'arguments'). But I never expect any of them to see reason.
In the past, I would have deemed that to be an absurd claim. Nowadays, it is demonstrably true.
This has been answered over and over by every conservative on here, but yet you do not accept what you are told.
[Deleted]
When you write comments that suggest the only reason Trump might be held guilty is location, you are implying that the cases have no merit. You are implying that guilt is a function of location rather than a function of evidence, the law, and jurisprudence.
You can acknowledge that Trump has engaged in wrongdoing but that does not give you immunity from challenge when you make statements that contradict that acknowledgement.
You totally missed the point.
If someone believes that Trump will be found guilty ONLY because of location then they are ipso facto claiming that the case has no merits.
Not true. It is well known that the demographics of certain locations of this country lean heavily to one side of the political spectrum and it is well known that Trump is not liked in some of those locations, therefore, minds have been made up even before a trial has started, ergo, it depends on the location if he will be found guilty because of personal biases, no matter the merits.
For instance, DC leans 94 percent democrat and voted as such for president in 2020.
Do you think those people will listen to reason and base their verdict on the merit, or will they base it on personal biases based on their ideology.
My guess, and it is correct, they will choose the latter.
”…it depends on the location if he will be found guilty…”
And the alternative?
If one breaks a law and is indicted in one jurisdiction, had a day in court, and faced the potential consequences…how in any way in our system of jurisprudence does it excuse the crime?
I did not and do not suggest that location is irrelevant. So get that incorrect thought out of your mind.
I have clearly stated that if someone believes that Trump will be found guilty ONLY because of location then they are ipso facto claiming that the case has no merits.
In other words, imagine (if you can) that the cases against Trump are strong and that he would be found guilty by the most objective jury on the planet. Now hold that thought:
If the trial is conducted in a very biased location and Trump is found guilty, that does not mean that Trump is NOT indeed guilty.
Yeah I should not be so euphemistic. Most of the time they do indeed understand but pretend obtuseness in lieu of a cogent rebuttal.
It doesn't, but if the appeals process shows, and most of these trials will probably go to the SC, that the original jury was wrong in their decision, then it would already had been known that their biases overtook any merits that may have been exonerate to the defendant.
I have not made that claim. You are again, IMO, pretending to not understand plain English.
Never said you did, so get that thought out of your mind.
"I have clearly stated that if someone believes that Trump will be found guilty ONLY because of location then they are ipso facto claiming that the case has no merits."
That's what you claim, but that is also untrue. The true merits of the case may show that Trump is innocent (imagine that if you can) of the charges brought against him. He does have a very good defense team. The demographics of the political leanings of the population play a huge part in their decision. Some can't help it with their partisanship.
Generally speaking pretzel logic is not easy to untwist.
Your original comment implied that a guilty verdict of Trump is due merely to the location (the bias of the jury) and NOT due to the merits of the case.
The case against Trump is substantial. The likelihood of a guilty verdict is high. The key mitigating factor, really, is politics due to the fact that a guilty verdict would make Trump the first PotUS in US history to be convicted of a felony and would trigger a shit storm among his irrational supporters.
Bias and politics actually play more into Trump's favor than against it.
A possibility. Not likely if one objectively considers the evidence relative to the charges. And Trump's legal team clearly knows this. That is why they are engaging in meta tactics to delay the trials, to argue that Trump is immune, etc. Similar to Trump's early attempts with the classified docs case of declaring they were declassified. This is all so obvious. It really is pathetic seeing people bend over backwards in ridiculous attempts to defend Trump.
Projection.
Given you have already forwarded your excuse if Trump is found guilty to be a biased jury (per location), your attempt to portray yourself as objective is futile.
Again, as you continue to spin, I know you understand what I write. When you pretend to miss my point again, maybe I should just call out faux obtuseness — pretending to not understand as an avoidance tactic.
I suspect most everyone reading this knows it anyway.
My point: If someone believes that Trump will be found guilty ONLY because of location then they are ipso facto claiming that the case has no merits.
Now if you can rebut this thoughtfully, let's see it.
Subjective
"The likelihood of a guilty verdict is high. The key mitigating factor, really, is politics due to the fact that a guilty verdict would make Trump the first PotUS in US history to be convicted of a felony and would trigger a shit storm among his irrational supporters."
It is and I have said why. No need to go into it again.
What kind of shit storm do you think the left will engage in if he is found not guilty, whether through the original trial or if the SC decides it? My guess is the left will do their usual burning, looting and killing to "peacefully protest" the not guilty decision.
"Bias and politics actually play more into Trump's favor than against it."
Not in the cases if where the cases are being heard, but again, I have already discussed it, so I will not repeat the same things over and over just for sanity sake.
“…and most of these trials will probably go to the SC…”
Ah, so you are entirely focused on trump and the 91 charges. My comment had no such restrictions.
If there are separate avenues to adjudication, (possibly to a court he helped confirm) for someone with his resources, with his circumstances, then we are defining the two-tiered system of justice so many ignorantly confirm.
Equal justice must…must apply to us all.
Not likely in most of these cases.
"That is why they are engaging in meta tactics to delay the trials, to argue that Trump is immune, etc. "
Wouldn't you if you are being tried in a hostile environment by highly biased DA's and prosecutors?
"It really is pathetic seeing people bend over backwards in ridiculous attempts to defend Trump."
The same for those that screech at every breath that Trump is legally guilty of everything he is accused of.
"Given you have already forwarded your excuse if Trump is found guilty to be a biased jury (per location), your attempt to portray yourself as objective is futile."
Your opinion but I'm sorry I did not bend to it for you.
I do and that mindset is truly laughable.
And highly partisan
... and according to the ahole you're defending, taking the 5th is for criminals.
Will you repeat that if Hunter Biden invokes the 5th during his hearing next month?
It truly is amazing the infatuation some have with one man they will never vote for.
Truly mind boggling.
How many comments have you made about Biden and you will never vote for him? This should not boggle your mind.
This is obvious. The two likely nominees for PotUS in an election year are going to be mentioned continuously on a news forum such as this.
Difference is I am not infatuated with him.
And I don't always opine about him
The difference is that you are supporting a traitor whose has engaged in some very serious wrongdoings and you obviously cannot defend him (nobody can, effectively).
Nobody has
Correct. The attempts at defending Trump are necessarily feeble because it is defending the indefensible. Not smart. Not honest.
In result, nobody has successfully defended Trump. But some continue in the attempt.
Will you admit you are wrong if he is found not guilty in any of his trials?
Depends on the specifics, right?
If a trial determines that Trump did NOT engage in fraud or coercion then I will accept the verdict. The degree to which I believe the verdict to be correct depends on the actual evidence and arguments (and the law itself). However, there is no possible way he has not lied or incited his supporters ... we have all seen that ... it is what it is.
But we do not even need a trial for me to admit being wrong. Make an argument and show that I am wrong about something specific. A select group of Trump supporters like you are very willing to make claims and disagree on criticism but always, consistently fall short of making an actual argument.
So, for example, I claim that Trump violated his oath of office by attempting to circumvent the CotUS by suborning Pence to table votes from select states that Trump lost (he had created fake electors in seven states) in the hope that this would cease the counting and force the House to step in and (with great wishful thinking) declare him the winner. This not only violates the CotUS but it disenfranchises voters ... it attacks the very foundation of democracy.
Let's see a thoughtful argument that shows that the above is wrong.
Subjective
"consistently fall short of making an actual argument."
Again, subjective
"(he had created fake electors in seven states) "
Not the first time a losing presidential candidate has done that, but I'm sure you are well aware.
"The degree to which I believe the verdict to be correct depends on the actual evidence and arguments (and the law itself)."
So you agree what most of us have been saying for months, The evidence is what the prosecution SAYS happened. The defense will also do the same to counter it. I have never stated guilt or innocence, unlike many left wing partisans who have, readily, without push back from the "independents", readily opining that Trump should have been hung from the rafters since Jan 20, 2016
Of course, you offer no argument.
Stating that a trial will include evidence from both sides is of no value. We all know that.
Claiming that some people have declared Trump guilty is also pointless. I have never declared him guilty so focus on who you are engaging.
Referring to the Kennedy election is also irrelevant because first you equate this with the Trump scheme (as if the same) and second, even if equivalent, you would be arguing that it is right just because it was done before. Obvious nonsense.
I claim that Trump violated his oath of office by attempting to circumvent the CotUS by suborning Pence to table votes from select states that Trump lost (he had created fake electors in seven states) in the hope that this would cease the counting and force the House to step in and (with great wishful thinking) declare him the winner. This not only violates the CotUS but it disenfranchises voters ... it attacks the very foundation of democracy.
You have failed to produce an argument showing I am wrong on this point.
Thank you for your opinion
Well said
Thanks
[Deleted]
Trump is guilty as sin of everything he has ever been accused of and his defense team (the ones who haven't quit) obviously suck hugely.
I don't think that you have to worry about being selected for jury duty.
You really should follow the thread.
You inadvertently are supporting my point.
Regardless, thanks for supporting my point.
What is funny is watching you pretend you do not understand that you directly supported my point.
TRUTH!
Unfortunately for you, and fortunately for Florida, he will return as governor and do just as great a job as he was doing before he started running for president.
Seems that you missed the series of setbacks he suffered in court to his ''agenda'' so it's much more likely that it's unfortunate for you.
What "setbacks" are those?
Losing court cases that kill some of his so called ''woke'' laws.
I really don't care about lawsuits as they don't affect me or my family, however, it seems to be a huge part of life for leftists.
"it's unfortunate for you."
DeSantis will drop out soon and continue to be your governor for three more years. Nothing you can do about it.
Sure they do, where do you think that funds come from to pay for the losing causes? It isn't a huge part of life for me I just enjoy watching him get thumped in court since he has a law degree you would think that he wouldn't take up losing causes, but after all, he is fighting ''woke''...LOL
Proving that the war on Woke will not sell nationwide and he looks like the loser that he is. Perfect ending for him and three years as a lame-duck governor.
Cheers
to protect against the indoctrination of children in public schools and libraries, ultra conservatives want to remove the responsibility from trained and dedicated professionals and give the responsibility to those with a completely invalid concept of the 1st amendment. where is my right to not have thumpers interfere in public schools and public works.
Yes, indeed.
How about letting parents decide what their children should read? They talk a good game about parents taking responsibility and destroying the Nanny State but here they are playing "nanny" to everyone
no bigoted thumper dipshits are ever going to tell me or mine what to read...
We're talking about school libraries (K-12) not public libraries. I don't believe the children's section of most public libraries allows pornography either. Parents have every right to complain about inappropriate materials, and I doubt all of them are "thumpers"
That's Gonna Leave a Mark: Tiffany Justice Demolishes Joy Reid on Her Own Show (Watch) – Twitchy
Try reading the article again and the morality police of FL. ''Moms for Liberty'' are either being arrested for shoplifting or involved in three way with their husband and friend.
Hypocrites are the last group of nuts we need telling us what our morals should be or what our kids should be reading.
Wasn't the husband accused of raping the third 'party' in the 'split roast' ?
he wanted to plug in the rug cleaner even though he forgot to bring along the rug..
Yes, he was but as of a few days ago that charged was dropped.
Yes Iggy, they were doing three ways before and there was another scheduled three way that the Mrs. Moral Values bowed out of and when Mr. Moral Values showed up at her house without the Mrs. Moral Values, she declined, so Mr. Moral Values raped her
The ones espousing moral values are always the first ones caught with their pants down.
cha-ching...
You don't know what you're talking about and you're projecting, as usual.
If they don't support the idiocy of the left then they are "thumpers".
it's funny when thumpers write laws that make their handbook ineligible for public schools and libraries...
Isn't that separation?....
... not when their skulls are that hopelessly lodged in their anal cavities.
Mmmm, I see. Out of curiosity, what do you think of the polls that indicate that Trump is going to beat Biden? .
what does that have to do with a bunch of thumpers that are too stupid to comprehend the 1st amendment? besides being trump's largest segment of loyal voters, I mean ...
Would that be the equivelant of leftist idiots changing the text of a book? You know like they did with Huckleberry Finn?
I think it's hilarious when sheet wearing, cross burning goobers get marginalized in 21st century america.
You could have simply shortened that to democrats.
It is funny when Democrats and their lemmings get treated as they treat others.
and it only took 100+ years for goober racists to transform the party that was putting mini-balls in them 160+ years ago.
I'd say the Democrats are still pretty racist. Look at the POTUS they put in office.
sorry to hear about the political amnesia you suffered from 1964 to 1974.
[deleted]
fortunately for us we have the self appointed defenders of the constitution to decide for others what should or shouldn't be read in america.
I guess the GoP has determined that the advantage in keeping people ignorant is that it betters their chances for re-election.
igknorantzrulz, unfortunately
that's their 2024 campaign platform...
DeSantis is out, Haley better strike now while she can still have a chance.
unfortunately the moron endorsed trump.
Agreed
he had to, the florida primary would have humiliated him and rendered his GOP future highly questionable. all his bros in the statehouse are turning on him.
... too short to be king of the mountain.
Bombastic Bill O'Reilly is now complaining since a couple of his books got banned. He was a supporter of the bill until then...LOL
billy o'really needs to get the number of trump's comb over consultant.
Florida Republicans have decided to ban all books, yes every single book in Florida will be banned and all libraries will be closed and turned into Evangelical centers.
They, the Republicans have decided that anyone that can read is someone they do not want in their party. They may ask a question or gasp, disagree with the morality of the leaders of the pack.
don't give them any ideas or they'll be outlawing the alphabet next.