Let me say this as plainly as I possibly can. Anytime anyone anywhere tries to legally ban a book they are wrong. If it didn’t violate free speech principles I would be in favor of making illegal the calling for the ban of a book. But in our free society even idiots have the right to express their opinions.
Banning books is the most stupid and fearful thing that one can do in reaction to ideas or words they don’t like. Often the argument is made that young readers can be harmed by the content of books. Usually such claims are made by people like christians who are absolutely convinced of the infallibility of their world view. If it is so solid shouldn’t it be able to stand up to ideas that run contrary to it? If you’ve raised your children in the foundation of your belief shouldn’t they be able to resist opposing ideas? It seems to me that being exposed to ideas that don’t fit yours should strengthen your philosophy if it is indeed the right one.
But that’s really the problem, isn’t it? Book banning has always been the action of overly repressive governments and philosophies. Allowing the population to experience perhaps foreign thoughts and stories of others is dangerous to anyone opposed to a free society. The only reason to ban a book is to force people to accept your philosophy as the only one.
The vilest books should be available in civic libraries. People should be allowed to read what they want to and make up their own minds about it. Banning a disagreeable book only means that you don’t trust those you are trying to control with its content.