Pubdate: Sat, 04 Nov 2000
Source: Denver Post (CO)
Copyright: 2000 The Denver Post
Contact:  1560 Broadway, Denver, CO 80202
Fax: (303) 820.1502
Website: http://www.denverpost.com/
Forum: http://www.denverpost.com/voice/voice.htm
Author: Diane Carman

TATTERED COVER HAS RIGHT TO FIGHT

Joyce Meskis isn't going down without a fight.

The owner of the Tattered Cover Book Store has stood firm since March, 
refusing to relinquish store records that would reveal who purchased two 
books on manufacturing amphetamines.

Denver District Court Judge J. Stephen Phillips last month ordered her to 
give the documents to police. She politely declined.

"A bookstore is a house of ideas," she said, explaining that it's a privacy 
issue and a free speech issue. She's right, of course, but there's more to 
the story.

On March 14, Adams County deputies raided a methamphetamine lab and found 
two books: "The Construction and Operation of Clandestine Drug 
Laboratories" and "Advanced Techniques of Clandestine Psychedelic and 
Amphetamine Manufacture." Investigators also recovered an envelope 
containing an invoice number from the Tattered Cover LoDo.

The books, while not Nobel Prize winners, are perfectly legal to write, 
publish, sell, purchase and read. In fact, probably the biggest market for 
these titles is the law enforcement community.

Presumably, investigators still don't have enough evidence to prosecute the 
suspects or they wouldn't be taking Meskis to court. In the past eight 
months, police have had ample opportunity to check fingerprints, interview 
witnesses, investigate the distribution of the illegal drugs and pursue any 
number of leads on the actual illegal activity.

And they're still fussing about who bought the books.

You have to wonder: Is it possible that the war on drugs has become so 
insidious that a suspect could be convicted of a felony based on evidence 
that he bought a book?

"This isn't about the Tattered Cover standing in the way of police 
enforcement at all," Meskis said. "We certainly understand how hard their 
job is. But to fear that what you read may be found in the hands of the 
authorities at their request is a very chilling prospect."

Sue Armstrong, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union in 
Colorado, agreed. "If the Tattered Cover loses this case, the message is 
clear that the government has the right to scrutinize what we read and 
infer behavior from that." Meskis said support for her position has been 
overwhelming. "We have never had an issue that we've been involved in that 
has had more support from all across the country."

And it's building, Armstrong said. "Both conservative and liberal groups 
are very concerned. I think it's heightened everyone's awareness." Meskis 
said she will appeal Phillips' ruling and her attorney, Dan Recht, will 
request the case go directly to the Colorado Supreme Court. But the 
eight-month-long legal battle has not come cheap, so I've got an idea. 
Everyone who cherishes the right to buy books without fear of government 
investigation, intimidation and harassment should celebrate it by visiting 
a Tattered Cover Book Store and buying a book - any book. It's the best way 
I know to say, Right on, Joyce!

And thanks for your courage.

E-mail Diane about this column.
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