Quote:
Originally Posted by Stitchawl
Well said, except for the fact that he was NOT arrested for writing something. He was arrested for distributing child pornography.
I guess it's just more fun to run amok shouting "Right have been violated" eh?
I don't see anyone calling for the arrest of an author. I DO see people demanding the arrest of an alleged child molester who has been charged with distribution of child pornography.
But I'll pose a question to think about; do you (that's the editorial 'you,') believe that people have, under the 'right of free speech,' the right to publish child pornography? After all, isn't that what Freedom of Speech is all about? The right to say or print or publish anything at all, regardless of content? Or do you think Child Pornography shouldn't be permitted? What else shouldn't be permitted? How about publishing National secrets? Perhaps the routes for nuclear waste on public roads? Should THAT be published? 
Frankly, I think there are things that just should be allowed to be published.
Stitchawl |
There is just one problem with your comment. You've already convicted this person of distributing child pornography. I haven't read the book and have only descriptions from news sources to go on, but from what I understand, there are no pictures in the book whatsoever and the news source which restarted this thread even mentions that he tries to offer "legal ways" to get close to children.
While it's certainly unsavory that someone who has sexual desires for children is writing about legal ways to spend time with children, I don't see how that translates into saying he has written child pornography.
Again, I'm not all that familiar with what was actually written, though I doubt you are familiar either (at least, no more than I am). I and others are simply saying that the constitution guarantees quite a bit of latitude in defending free speech and it's ambiguous at best if the Florida law under which he has been arrested is compatible with the First Amendment.
The most you can say right now is that an arrest warrant has been issued for him. He has not been convicted of a crime and this whole lynching attitude is simply not helpful to any realistic discussion.