Does downloading child pornography from the Internet deserve the same criminal punishment as first-degree murder?
A circuit court judge in Florida clearly thinks so: On Thursday, he sentenced Daniel Enrique Guevara Vilca, a 26-year-old stockroom worker whose home computer was found to contain hundreds of pornographic images of children, to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
But the severity of the justice meted out to Mr. Vilca, who had no previous criminal record, has led some criminal justice experts to question whether increasingly harsh penalties delivered in cases involving the viewing of pornography really fit the crime. Had Mr. Vilca actually molested a child, they note, he might well have received a lighter sentence.
http://mobile.nytimes.com/article?a=863301&single=1&f=21

I dont really go along with legislating pornography of any type. As much sex and violence is readily available in media, it seems hypocritical. Target those who MAKE the videos, yes. Those people who physically make these children perform,, yes. The ones who are watching, however sick it is...no. I have never thought INACTION should be a crime.

You Are Absolutely Right !

well it is a crime and crime has consequences. i'm sure the perp could use some money for his appeals, perhaps you folks might contribute.

possession of child pornography is not the equivalent of first-degreemurder.

seems in florida it is.

many more causes that take more of a priority for me at this time,,,,


ITs not at issue that its a crime, its at issue whether it SHOULD be a crime

interracial relationships were once criminal too, but they should not have been

smoking weed is illegal, and IMHO should not be

we can change, update, and amend laws and it usually starts when people are of the opinion that they should be changed, updated, or amended,,,

Arrested: Ex-Penn State Coach, Athletic Director Tim Curley Charged In Child Sex Case
AP :
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — A former defensive coordinator who was integral for decades to Penn State's success in football was accused Saturday of sexually abusing eight boys, and the school's athletic director and an administrator were charged with perjury andfailing to report what they knew about the allegations in a case that prosecutor said uncovered a years-long trail of a predator and those who protected him.
Former coach Jerry Sandusky, 67, of State College, was arrested Saturday and released on$100,000 bail after being arraigned on 40 criminal counts, the state attorneygeneral's office said. Athletic director Tim Curley, 57, and Penn Statevice president for financeand business Gary Schultz, 62, both of Boalsburg, were expected to turn themselves in Monday in Harrisburg. Schultz's position includes oversight of the university's police department.

It's a crime. Shok.

sexual abuse should be a crime, no doubt

its sad, we used to mainly worry about girls, but now young boys have so many PREDATORS seeking them out

sick world...

well folks, we live in an elected republic and as such we have congress and legislatures that represent us in deciding what is and is not legal. i keep saying this but few seem to get it but it does no good whatsoever to ***** about what should and should not be on places like dating site forums. therein lies the biggest problem with our political system. so many take in the political and media sound bites as if it's all air to breathe but few take the time to work the sytem which allows many that do work the system and succede simply produce more sound bites that'll keep them in power but of course nothing ever changes. the powers that be on both sides know full well that what p.t. barnum once quipped is true, "nobody ever lost a dime betting against the intelligence of the american people."

I dont think we could honestly create a list of all the things that 'encourage' child abuse,and I just wouldnt want to see it legislated as if we can,,,



I mean, there is a distinct difference between FANTASY and physical reality,, where would we go from there

death penalty for those who have VIOLENT movies, because we assume they must be violent or have violent tendencies?

incarceration for those with rape porn, because we fear they must be rapists?

I dont want to legislate peoples fantasies, no matter how disgusting others may find them

video is just fantasy,, legislate the conditions and boundaries in which it can be created, but dont punish people for using their money for consumption of a product

if the product is illegal, the ones MAKING it should get the harshest sentence, not those who have become accustomed to consuming it,,, we see how well targeting the 'user' was in the war on drugs,,, while the creators continue to be just as prevalent and popular,,,

It is in my book.

It should be a capitol offense.

a bit bloodthirsty, our culture,,,,

and I agree, child rapists should be incarcerated

those fantasizing about it , which is just as distasteful as those who fantasize about ANY rape, are ill, but not criminal

imho,, when it crosses over into ACTION, penalize it,, but I dont agree with being thought police,,,,

if someone has an illegal product, even a product as distasteful as child porn, their crime should be possession of illegal product, which has never invoked a death penalty as far as I know

it is not a child, it is a VIDEO of a child, huge difference

sometimes it is even an adult in the role of a child, no way to discern all that just from a video....

I agree, those who consume the product encourage the market, but thats also not a death penalty offense in my opinion,,

it is a product, outlaw the product and prosecute those who consume ot possess it

If the child in the video is real, then it's no difference to me.

its a big if , a type of knowledge its hard to prove someone has,,,if they werent MAKING the video...

and I was agreeing,,