1. United States
2. Texas
3. Letter

I am writing as a concerned constituent from San Antonio, Texas, to express my strong opposition to recent legislative efforts, particularly House Bill 1375 and the READER Act, which impose stringent restrictions on bookstores and the availability of literature in our state. These laws, under the guise of protecting minors, threaten the foundational principles of free speech and open access to information. By holding bookstores liable for selling materials deemed "obscene" based on vague and subjective criteria, the legislation not only endangers the viability of independent booksellers but also curtails the public's access to a diverse range of literary works. Notably, classic and critically acclaimed books such as Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale and Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye have been targeted under these measures. The ambiguity surrounding what constitutes "obscene" or "sexually explicit" content places an undue burden on booksellers, forcing them to act as censors to avoid potential legal repercussions. This has led to a chilling effect, where even educational and historically significant materials are at risk of being removed from shelves. Furthermore, these laws undermine the autonomy of parents and educators to make informed decisions about appropriate reading materials for their children and students. Instead of fostering an environment of open dialogue and critical thinking, such legislation promotes censorship and restricts the intellectual freedom that is essential to a thriving democratic society. I urge you to reconsider these restrictive measures and advocate for policies that uphold the First Amendment rights of all Texans. Protecting our youth should not come at the expense of suppressing diverse voices and limiting access to literature that reflects the complexities of our world. Thank you for your attention to this pressing matter. I look forward to your response and to seeing actions that support the freedom to read and the vitality of our literary community.