This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Carl Woldberg mewls Todd Weiler's proposal to opt-in to view pornography ("A few things more important ... ," May 24). Curiously, he uses the "I'm looking at it for the articles" defense as he questions the senator's plan to "decide what [he] can read on the Internet."
He then goes on to question if the post office will open mail, libraries remove books or theaters won't show movies. Let's examine those.
At a movie theater, a child shows identification to prove their age in seeing certain movies. No such equivalent exists on the Internet. In a library, the exact kinds of Internet filters exist on the computers. And in the post office, one has a choice of whether they want to open and view letters.
No, Weiler wants you to have the ability to make a choice. To allow adults to decide what material is appropriate in their home and which material is not. Other media already has this option; the Internet does not.
As for Woldberg's concern Weiler is neglecting important issues, one need only look at his legislation.
Just last session he created the Conversion to Alternative Fuel Grant Program Fund to incentivize converting to cleaner fuels. He then created the Homeless to Housing Reform Restricted Account and amended low-income housing tax credits and the Olene Walker Housing Fund, which prohibits a municipality from stopping a homeless shelter from operating year-round. He supported legislation to make Naloxone to combat overdoses and carried legislation to provide safety training to children in crisis.
I'm proud of Weiler creating an elegant way to protect the First Amendment while still giving choice to Utah residents and parents.
Jeremy Roberts
Lehi