Like children's books? Better get them while you can!

*Warning* Government rant!  If you love everything this government does and consider them a benevolent group of guys and gals then keep on moving to the next blog!  I have never seen government idiocy at this level before....and I am outraged!

Do you know?  Have you heard?  Are you like me?  Do you shop Goodwill, Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, garage sales, used book sales, library book sales, buy home school curriculum and great used books for your children????  Well, come February 10th you can kiss it all good-bye!

Our government (who in my humble opinion has grown way to big for their britches and is exceedingly arrogant) has passed some legislation that takes effect on February 10th which, in an effort to keep you safe, will make it a FELONY...a felony people!...to participate in any of the above things if you are looking for/shopping for children's things.  In fact, you won't even be allowed to give it away!  You heard me!  No longer can you pass some used home school books or curriculum to a friend, neighbor or that sweet family who's budget is too tight.  Not unless you are willing to face 5 years in jail and a $100,000 fine!

I plead with all of you....please, please, please, call your representatives and express your thoughts and demand a response...politely of course!  If you have never called or written before, please make this the first time.  Can you imagine what this is going to do to those raising large families?  To the price of new things in stores?  To those of us living on limited incomes?

Here is the information...

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Notes from Heather
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The Sale of Children's Books to be Banned

Oh, how I wish this were a joke! But it is a grim and looming, almost Orwellian, reality.

Effective February 10th, in the United States, the sale of all children's books (books intended for children ages 12 and under)                      is to be PROHIBITED. Every single book printed prior to the ruling is affected, whether new or used. New books in
production are required to include a "lead-free" certification and will be the only books that are legal to offer for sale.

What does this mean to the homeschooling family?

Well, for one, curriculum fairs across the country will be cancelled as book vendors scramble to figure out how to comply
with the new ruling. Complete book inventories will have to be destroyed -- the ruling even prohibits giving away the books!
Local thrift stores will be hard hit -- most will likely have to close their doors -- yes, even Goodwill and Salvation Army.

Clothing, toys and books -- even CDs and DVDs are included in the ruling. Thrift stores will no longer be able to accept or process
anything (including clothing) that would be intended for a child.

No more library sales. Libraries will not be permitted to give away or sell book donations. It is unsure yet, however, how
the libraries' shelves themselves will be impacted (the ruling doesn't explicitly mention "loaning" books, just selling or
giving them away). The key word, however, is "distribution" --libraries may well be required to destroy books from their shelves.

(The ruling that originally passed was about toys, but the EPA has since made a statement that clothing, books and media are included
in "children's toys".)

Just how serious is this new law?

Amazon.com has already notified all vendors of their need to comply. No book can be sold at the Amazon site that was printed prior to
compliance. And the "compliance" must be coordinated at the manu- facturing stage. At the time of this article there is no clause
to be able to grandfather-in older books or even rare out-of-print books. It can cost between $500 and $1500 to test a book for lead.

I happen to own a children's bookstore specializing in living books from the 1950s and '60s. My punishment for selling a book after
February 10th? Up to $100,000 and 5 years in jail. And yes, it is a felony charge. For selling a SINGLE book.

(Although I don't think the S.W.A.T. team scenario would become a reality overnight, at the same time I would be leery of blatantly
violating Federal law.)

So what can you do to help save your local used bookstore that sells children's books? Or that homeschool curriculum business?
Or your EBay business selling children's items?

ACT NOW before the quickly approaching deadlines:

1) Email or call the CPSIA - the office of the CPSC ombudsman at 888-531-9070. http://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/newleg.aspx

Comments on Component Parts Testing accepted through January 30, 2009.                                                                                                            Or email: Sec102ComponentPartsTesting@cpsc.gov

2) Contact your local representatives. For their contact information, just enter your zip code.
http://capwiz.com/americanapparel/dbq/officials/

3) Make your voice heard by voting on this issue! The top 3 in each category will be presented to President-elect Obama.
http://change.org/ideas/view/save_handmade_toys_from_the_cpsia

4) Sign the petition.
http://ipetitions.com/petition/economicimpactsofCPSIA/index.html

5) Spread the word! Forward this article. Send an email. Write about this on your blog. Tell others about this issue and
encourage them to do the same.

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For the complete story, read the following links:

http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/cpsia.html

Consumer Product Safety Commission Summaries on Legislation Index
page for Children's Products Containing Lead; Lead Paint Rule and
other rulings

http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/legislation.html#summaries

Office of the General Counsel FAQ on retroactive inventory requirements -- The use of forward effective dates                                         appears to force current inventories to adhere to the ruling on February 10th, 2009

http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/summaries/101brief.html

Specific FAQ on their interpretation of books and other media to be included in the testing of lead based products
http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/faq/101faq.html

Effective Date: Lead content limit of 600 ppm becomes effective 180 days after enactment. An advisory opinion regarding the application of the new lead limit to inventory existing at the effective date can be found on our web site at
http://www.cpsc.gov/library/foia/advisory/317.pdf

Getting the Lead out: There is no lead in children's books      http://news.bookweb.org/news/5695.html

There is no lead in Children's books: From a Pedtrician

http://health.yahoo.com/experts/childhealth/3955/is-there-lead-in-baby-books/

We have a small window during which the  CPSIA will take public comments.  You must take a few moments to call them, write them and encourage others to do the same.  We must work to change this.  They are tentatively leaning towards loosening the original plan.  If you make your living selling children's things, then it is imperative for you to let them know how this will effect you.

Call, write and alert your friends, families and co-workers.  If you have a blog...please consider posting about this.  Let us work together to try to stop this ridiculous ruling.  Our freedoms are flying out the doors folks and if we don't begin to shout and scream and fight back then America will cease to exist and we will become just another socialist/communist experiment that  failed.  Let us not go down without a fight!

So...tomorrow - I'll be phoning and writing and forwarding this message.  After that...I'm shopping for some used classic books for my boys while I can still get them!  And, I'll be hitting some garage sales for clothes ....while I still can without fear of facing a felony conviction....

Let's get busy!