SHERIFF: What it looks like to me

On the surface, it is difficult to find very much fault with Sheriff Norris’s editorial, as a guest opinion in The Press on Sunday, Oct. 15. I agree, even though I am not familiar with the context surrounding the excerpts he referenced from the book “Deal With It,” the language is uncomfortable, and not appropriate for young discerning minds.

Nevertheless, this whole thing appears to be nothing more than a charade and a political maneuver, regardless of his personal views on the matter, to satisfy his base of voters for a rapidly approaching election year. He could have simply discussed the issue with library officials, either acting in his official capacity or as a concerned parent, requesting of them to reevaluate how this book, or other books, were categorized and subsequently placed on shelves, absent all the fanfare, public commentary with front-page articles, and supporting photographs. End of story.

Whatever happened to the days when our sheriff performed his duties and public appearances in nonpartisan ways?

I go back to my point from a previous letter; that our children, armed with a cellphone, Google and a couple key search words in the privacy of their own home, are far more likely to have access to the plethora of content not suitable for their young eyes, than running across a couple of library books, among thousands, that were either mis-categorized or placed on the wrong shelf.

Again, our sheriff’s attention should be centered more on solving the aforementioned problem, than trying to placate the proverbial squeaky wheel in an unequivocal partisan way, from the capacity of a position that is traditionally honored through performance in a politically neutral manner. I am fairly certain this would garner more votes, not less.

BRAD BANTA

Coeur d’Alene