Paul M. Rodriguez

Child pornography, whether real or computer-generated, encourages child molesters, argues Paul M. Rodriguez in the following viewpoint. The purpose of laws banning child pornography, he maintains, is to protect children from exploitation for its production and prevent child molesters from obtaining images known to whet their predatory appetites. Since computer-generated images of imaginary children engaging in virtual sexual acts are indistinguishable from real images, claims Rodriguez, they should be considered child pornography and banned. Paul M. Rodriguez is managing editor of Insight magazine.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. According to Rodriguez, what are the laws against child pornography designed to accomplish"
2. What does the author suggest is part of the perversion that drives some to harm children"
3. In Rodriguez’s opinion, what essential ingredient of the law against...