Naughty Journal Author Denied Plea Change

[measl at mfn.org]

On Wed, 5 Sep 2001, Declan McCullagh wrote:

> Mere possession (not creation) of visual depictions of child
> pornography has been a federal felony for at least a decade.
> Someone who's a "collector" who did not publish the material would
> be a felon.

We are not talking about "visual depictions" (cute Fedz euphemism for
photographs or photograph like imagery) here, we are talking about
*written words*.  The anti-imaging laws are justified on the grounds that
producing the stuff requires, by definition, a child, and therefore,
outlawing the stuff "Saves Children".  

As I understand this story, the guy had a diary which contained written
descriptions of things he would *like* to do, not a photo album of kids
bent over a table...

Big difference.  A a "journalist", I'm sure you can see where this not so
subtle difference lies...


-- 
Yours, 
J.A. Terranson
sysadmin at mfn.org

If Governments really want us to behave like civilized human beings, they
should give serious consideration towards setting a better example:
Ruling by force, rather than consensus; the unrestrained application of
unjust laws (which the victim-populations were never allowed input on in
the first place); the State policy of justice only for the rich and 
elected; the intentional abuse and occassionally destruction of entire
populations merely to distract an already apathetic and numb electorate...
This type of demogoguery must surely wipe out the fascist United States
as surely as it wiped out the fascist Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

The views expressed here are mine, and NOT those of my employers,
associates, or others.  Besides, if it *were* the opinion of all of
those people, I doubt there would be a problem to bitch about in the
first place...
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