Pedophilia should be illegal

Some more semantics need to be dealt with before the debate proceeds. Pedophiles can be sub-divided into 2 main groups and be sub-divided even beyond that. I think to keep the debate fair, we should sub-divide pedophiles into exclusive and non-exclusive. Exclusive pedophiles is what I want to focus on. If we include non-exclusive it would include anyone who has ever had a fantasy about a child. Pedophilia is a sexual orientation This isn't something that can't be helped it's genetic. Some environmental factors may play a role, but it isn't likely to play a significant role. Pedophile is a sexual orientation, just like homosexuality, heterosexuality, bisexuality, asexuality etc. . You can't just wake up one day and decide not to be a pedophile. If you're a pedophile, you're a pedophile for life [1]. Many experts will tell you pedophilia is a sexual orientation [1]. Now, it's true the APA doesn't list pedophilia as a sexual orientation. It should be noted that they did list it as a sexual orientation until a bunch of right wing groups, complained that calling it a sexual orientation excuses child molestation [2]. The APA did what they usually do under strong social pressure and changed their manual. The same way they did in the 70s under pressure from gay rights groups. Time Bomb These exclusive-pedophiles are like ticking time bombs. They are only attracted to little kids. Society is forcing these guys to hide their sexual orientation, and they must remain celibate or hurt the very thing they want to love. Thinking that any straight or gay man can go their whole life and honor their vow of celibacy is crazy. I couldn't do it. I want to ask the voters if they could honor a vow of celibacy. They'd have to do without porn also since it exploits children. Most pedophiles will violate the law to satisfy their urges. It's not a matter of if, but when. If you don't believe me, just go a month without touching whoever you're attracted to in a sexual way, and avoid porn. What Making it Illegal Accomplishes Making pedophilia illegal, gets pedophiles the help they need. This isn't about locking somebody up for thought crimes. If we outlaw this psychological condition we can force pedophiles to get the help the need to prevent them from causing harm, and to deal with the psychological stresses of belonging to this sexual Orientation. There is even medication, extremely beneficial to helping them overcome their desires [3]. By making pedophilia illegal you can call treatment a punishment and require it among all discovered pedophiles. This illegality, would help create funding for pedophile treatment, so our children are safer. Pedophiles need help dealing with their desires. I'm sure most of them would support a law that makes getting the therapy they desperately need easier. In America people would not get behind a law that funds treatment for pedophiles, but if a bill were offered that made it a crime to be one, then it would be a lot easier to pass and therapy as well as a campaign to reach out to closet pedophiles, to seek help could be heavily funded. There are institutions right now that specialize in helping pedophiles[4]. With funding we could possibly prevent the lives of hundreds of thousands of children and pedophiles from being irreparably harmed. Adult's Engaging in Sexual Intercourse, With Children is Wrong I don't think, I need to go into too much detail with this point. I doubt my opponent would deny adults having sex with children is bad. Kids brains aren't fully developed, so it isn't really possible for them to fairly consent. They are also easily manipulated or coerced into doing things they don't want to. Plus it causes permanent psychological and sometimes physical damage to the child to engage in that sort of behavior. Conclusion Pedophilia needs to be made illegal, so that we can prevent sexual abuse of children and help pedophiles to be people that society can actually value, instead of demonize. Making it illegal helps children. It helps pedophiles. It's a true win-win scenario. Sources [1]. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com... [2]. http://m.huffpost.com... [3]. http://www.slate.com... [4]. https://www.dont-offend.org...