Feeding the Desires of Pedophiles
Justices John Paul Stevens, David H. Souter, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen G. Breyer signed Kennedy’s opinion. Justice Clarence Thomas issued a separate concurring opinion that suggested future regulation of some kinds of virtual child pornography may be possible.
Writing in dissent, Chief Justice William Rehnquist said computer-generated images “are virtually indistinguishable from real children engaged in sexually explicit conduct.”
Rehnquist was joined in his opinion by Justice Antonin Scalia. Justice Sandra Day O’Connor partially agreed with the majority and partially disagreed when she noted that the law was too broad but said a portion could be salvaged.
Some children’s rights advocates argued that even computer generated images feed the sick desires of pedophiles.
“Well I’m outraged. I’m sad by the ruling, I think the courts have put pedophiles over children,” said Rep. Mark Foley, a Florida Republican.
