ARE THERE FIRST AMENDMENT PROBLEMS WITH barring sex offenders from public libraries? Honestly, if you’re not willing to keep them in jail, you should leave them alone. The endless array of petty penalties is just tacky.

UPDATE: Reader Mark Davis writes: “Not only are the punishments becoming more petty; the definition of ‘sex offender’ becomes more petty by the day. For instance, in many jurisdictions you don’t want to get caught answering nature’s emergency call by the side of the road. Who knew such distress could someday cause the yanking of your library card? And worse. Much worse.” Indeed. The entire thing is a disgrace. And probably a due-process violation, properly understood.