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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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CONTACT:
Victoria L. Stanish |
State Rep. Jennifer
Mann |
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Mann bill creating penalty for viewing child pornography voted out of House Judiciary Committee
HARRISBURG, Mar. 13 – State Rep. Jennifer Mann, D-Lehigh, said legislation she introduced that would further protect children from sexual predators was voted out of the House Judiciary Committee today.
The bill (H.B. 35) would make viewing child pornography a crime under Pennsylvania law. Under current law, only the possession of child pornography is punishable, not merely viewing it.
“We have to do everything we can to protect our children from sexual predators who will abuse and exploit their innocence,” Mann said. “This measure is a further safeguard for our kids, and helps give law enforcement and the courts more muscle to prosecute criminals who engage in this type of deviant behavior.” Mann introduced the legislation in response to a state Superior Court ruling that overturned the conviction of a man who admitted to intentionally viewing prohibited material but claimed he did not know his computer was storing the images.
The legislation is expected to come before the full House for a vote soon.
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