hey - i am being honest when i say that i do not want to see p.t. skewered, but the truth is an ugly thing. the fact is that interpol and other european policing agencies had done exactly what you describe. the 'scumbags' that had offered the material for sale had been busted. phase two of the kiddie porn sweep involved busting the site's customers. many of the sites members were nailed in this sting.

this is not a personal attack, doc, but i think your take on the issue is frighteningly nearsighted. purchasing child pornography is not a victimless crime.

the buyer does not take the photos, he pays someone else to do it for him.

does a guy that hires a hit man to kill his wife deserve a lesser penalty (slap on the wrist, fine) than the shooter ? or are thay both to be punished ?

i'd be damned before i started supporting thoughtcrime legislation, but i draw a line at perpeuating a demand for the pictoral record of the actual rape of real children. stories, drawings, computer generated cartoons - whatever floats your boat - but not real kids.

i hope pete is not guilty - i really do - but if he is, i hope he fucking rots in prison.