Opinion ID: 3051432
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: the use of children in the production of sexu-

Text: ally explicit material, including photographs, films, videos, computer images, and other visual depic- tions, is a form of sexual abuse which can result in physical or psychological harm, or both, to the children involved; (2) where children are used in its production, child pornography permanently records the victim’s abuse, and its continued existence causes the child victims of sexual abuse continuing harm by haunting those children in future years[.] Id. The creation of child pornography results from the market for such images. Of note, a person who receives images (for instance, by ordering a magazine or subscribing to an online website) furthers the market for such images whether or not the person retains them. Indeed, even a person who receives the images and never gets around to viewing them still causes these harms that Congress noted. Second, and separately, Congress identified the harmful uses of child pornography in the hands of pedophiles and sexual abusers: (3) child pornography is often used as part of a method of seducing other children into sexual activity; a child who is reluctant to engage in sexual activity with an adult, or to pose for sexually explicit photographs, can sometimes be convinced by view- ing depictions of other children “having fun” participating in such activity; UNITED STATES v. DAVENPORT 2675 (4) child pornography is often used by pedophiles and child sexual abusers to stimulate and whet their own sexual appetites, and as a model for sexual acting out with children; such use of child pornography can desensitize the viewer to the pathology of sexual abuse or exploitation of children, so that it can become acceptable to and even preferred by the viewer[.] Id. Production or receipt of child pornography does not per se cause these harms. Rather, a person’s possession and use of the images causes these harms. Congress amended the statute two years later. Its express purpose was to get tougher on persons who possessed child pornography. See 144 Cong. Rec. S12262-65 (1998) (explaining that the “Protection of Children From Sexual Predators Act of 1998” was an effort to take a “zero tolerance” approach to possession of child pornography). Congress effectuated that purpose by criminalizing the possession of any number of images (not just “3 or more”). 18 U.S.C. § 2252A(a)(5). At the same time, it passed an affirmative defense for persons who possessed less than three images and promptly destroyed the images or contacted law enforcement. 18 U.S.C. § 2252A(d).3 3 That provision reads: It shall be an affirmative defense . . . that the defendant— (1) possessed less than three images of child pornography; and (2) promptly and in good faith, and without retaining or allowing any person, other than a law enforcement agency, to access any image or copy thereof— (A) took reasonable steps to destroy each such image; or (B) reported the matter to a law enforcement agency and afforded that agency access to each such image. 18 U.S.C. § 2252A(d). 2676 UNITED STATES v. DAVENPORT