English Essay

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Jessica Freeman
Mr. Ellsworth
ENG3U1-05
Friday, October 23, 2009
Child Pornography Laws:
Walking the Tightrope between The Charter Of Rights and Child Rights
When the Charter of Rights and Freedoms was enacted, Pierre Trudeau's Liberal
Government never thought that it would cause such problems as putting away criminal offenders.
Not just any criminal, but predators of children. Even with the current child pornography laws
being as harsh as they are, Canada is rated the ninth highest in the world for child pornography
(Ropelato). Child pornography laws should be stronger because of the victims and their families
mental health, we need stricter punishments to ensure it will not happen as often, and more
security in communities.
Child pornography is something most people can not understand, or do not want to
understand. The people who condone and participate in these monstrous acts of pleasure do it for
many different reasons that only make sense to these sorts of people. For instance, some
individuals will collect and distribute child pornography to stimulate their sexual desire; others
will watch it or force children to participate in it to make themselves believe that it is the
"normal" thing to do and that thousands of other people are doing it as well; a number of people
contribute for profit (Healy). Furthermore, these people do not care about the repercussions these
actions will have on the child, they are only interested in the benefits strictly related to
themselves. When a child is forced into watching pornography at such a young age, they can
become numbed and can become lead on to believe that pornography is normal for children to
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participate in. The children who are specifically involved in the pornography, can have more
serious side effects. These can include: emotional withdrawal, anti-social behaviours, mood
swings, depression, severe fear and anxiety, and limited ability to trust (Healy). Why should
these criminals spend five years of suffering in jail, if they even get sent to jail, when these
children and their families have to spend the rest of their lives suffering?
Even though it is said that Canada is to have one of the most strictest child pornography
laws ("The Supreme"), many of these offenders manage to get off using the excuse of freedom of
thought and art. When deciding the fate of these people, the prosecutors will probably spend
more time investigating and gathering evidence, then the offender him/herself will actually spend
in jail("The Supreme"). Since the Charter of Rights and Freedoms can be used as somewhat of a
"get-out-of-jail-free-card" its hard to get a conviction to be completed. Also these freedoms and
rights can not just be exempt from a certain group of people, because then other people will want
exemptions and the Charter will dissolve and there will have been no point. However, if by
making the pornography laws stronger, it will show people like this the consequences and that
the justice system is being serious on this issue. With a measly sentence of a maximum of five
years in jail, these people will just go right back to their ways once they are released from jail.
By raising the jail-time and making their consequences more dire, this can hopefully prevent the
amount of child pornography in the world today. In no way will it stop child pornography
completely, but at least there is the hope that not as many children will be hurt by this cruel
method of profit and pleasure. For an example, with murder punishments being so high, its does
not happen as often as if say the maximum penalty was ten years. If the maximum penalty for
child pornography was raised to ten years, there would be much less around.
With stricter punishments and more enforcements and protection around parks, schools,
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and areas where children get taken most often, this could ensure a decrease in the number of
children taken and used for these horrible acts of satisfaction. Stricter punishments alone will not
do the trick, they would certainly help, but not make a giant decrease by themselves. If police
officers were to patrol parks and high risk areas, pedophiles would not take children. However
that costs funding, but what is more important, the safety of the children or funding another new
Wal-Mart? The answer to that is simple.
To summarize, child pornography laws should be made stronger because of the victims
and their families mental health, to ensure that it will not happen as often and to guarantee a safer
community in which children can grow up safely. All it takes is a few simple acts in order to
make our world a better and safer place.

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Works Cited
Healy, Margaret A. "Child Pornography: An International Perspective." Computer Crime
Research Centre. 2 August 2004. 15 October 2009.
< http://www.crime-research.org/articles/536 >.
Ropelato, Jerry. "Internet Pornography Statistics." Top Ten Reviews. 16 October 2009.
< http://internet-filter-review.toptenreviews.com/internet-pornography-statistics.html >
"The Supreme Court and Child Porn." Canadian Broadcasting Corporation News. 22 June
2004. 15 October 2009. < http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/childporn/ >.

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Freeman 1

Friday, October 23, 2009

Child Pornography Laws:

Wal-Mart? The answer to that is simple.

make our world a better and safer place.

Healy, Margaret A. "Child Pornography: An International Perspective." Computer Crime

Research Centre. 2 August 2004. 15 October 2009.

< http://www.crime-research.org/articles/536 >.

< http://internet-filter-review.toptenreviews.com/internet-pornography-statistics.html >

2004. 15 October 2009. < http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/childporn/ >.

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