Gonzales gives child porn 'wake-up call'
Attorney general issues graphic warning of online 'epidemic'
>From Terry Frieden
CNN
Thursday, April 20, 2006; Posted: 4:15 p.m. EDT (20:15 GMT)
U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales: "It is brutal; it is heinous,
and it is criminal."
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Attorney General Alberto Gonzales on Thursday
issued what he termed a "wake-up call" to the growing problems of
pedophiles prowling the Internet and online images of sexual abuse of
children.
Gonzales described the depravity and horror of criminal acts against
children in unusually graphic detail.
"It is not an exaggeration to say that we are in the midst of an
epidemic in the production and trafficking of movies and images
depicting the sexual abuse of children," Gonzales said.
"The threat is frighteningly real, it is growing rapidly, and it must
be stopped," he said.
To highlight the Justice Department's growing concern, he traveled to
the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in Alexandria,
Virginia, to deliver his speech.
Gonzales praised the center for its help, but said the public "does not
yet appreciate the scope, the nature and the import of this criminal
activity and the threat it poses to our kids."
The attorney general said one of every five children online is now
solicited. He cited a recent estimate that 50,000 predators are online
at any given time prowling for children.
"It is graphic, but if we do not talk candidly then it is easy for
people to turn away," he said.
"I have seen pictures of older men forcing naked young girls to have
anal sex," Gonzales said. "There are videos on the Internet of very
young daughters forced to have intercourse and oral sex with their
fathers.
"Viewing this was shocking and it makes my stomach turn, but while
these descriptions may make some uncomfortable, we will not defeat this
threat unless we all really understand the nature of the child
pornography now prevalent on the Internet," he said.
Gonzales said the public must not consider child porn a victimless
crime.
"There are images of graphic sexual and physical abuse of innocent
children, even babies," he said. "It is brutal; it is heinous, and it
is criminal."
He said he is sending to Congress a legislative package that includes
greater penalties and improved cooperation from Internet service
providers.
"This legislation will help ensure that Internet service providers
report the presence of child pornography on their systems by
strengthening criminal penalties for failing to report it," the
attorney general said.
|
|