[Jim Noble]

>>Child pornography is banned because it harms the kids, not because its offensive to adults<<

Not so.

It is banned because it is obscene. No court has ever ruled that obscene material is legally protected-until today.

[AmericanInTokyo]

"It would be peculiarly improper to omit, in this first official act, my fervent supplication to that Almighty Being, who rules over the universe, who presides in the councils of nations, and whose providential aids can supply every human defect, that His benediction may consecrate to the liberties and happiness of the people of the United States. . . . No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the invisible hand which conducts the affairs of men more than the people of the United States. Every step by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation seems to have been distinguished by some token of providential agency. . . . We ought to be no less persuaded that the propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which Heaven itself has ordained."

--George Washington, in his first inaugural address (April 30, 1789), reprinted in The Writings of George Washington, ed. John C. Fitzpatrick (Washington: United States Government Printing Office, 1931-44),vol. 30, pp. 292-6.

And

WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court struck down a congressional ban on virtual child pornography Tuesday, ruling that the First Amendment protects pornography or other sexual images that only appear to depict real children engaged in sex. The 6-3 ruling is a victory for both pornographers..."

--AP News April 16, 2002

[gdani]

No court has ever ruled that obscene material is legally protected-until today

The problem (well, one of them) with the statute is that it covered much more than "obscenity".

Obscene material is still illegal.

[Dimensio]

No court has ever ruled that obscene material is legally protected-until today.

They ruled on obscenity statues? I thought that it was just over the classification of images wherein no real minors are involved (drawings, computer renderings or adults "depicted" as minors) as "child pornography".