15 years in jail for possession of manga...

[Riku3220]

An Iowa man recently pled guilty to one count of possessing obscene visual representations of the sexual abuse of children and to one count of mailing obscene material. He faces a maximum of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. This obscene material? Manga.

 

 

 

Christopher Hadley, 39, ordered some manga from Japan two years ago. When a postal inspector decided that the content of the books was obscene, he applied for a search warrant. And when Hadley retrieved his package from the post office, having no idea it had been searched, he arrived home to find police officers who seized his manga, comic book, and DVD collection, as well as his computers. The charges against Hadley were based on only a small number of materials in the collection of over 1,200 publications.

 

 

 

Child pornography is obviously a touchy subject, and its a complicated one. The laws were originally enacted to prevent child abuse or any other harm to children, but since then, reported links between the use of pornography and actual abuse have led to the additional banning of virtual child pornography (i.e. illustrations or computer-generated images depicting children in a pornographic manner that did not involve the participation of any actual children). Though the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the first law to this effect, there is a new law, the PROTECT Act, that specifically prohibits obscene virtual child pornography. This is the law under which Hadley was prosecuted; his guilty plea makes him the first person to be convicted for possessing cartoon art without any evidence that he viewed actual child pornography.

 

 

 

Manga is particularly problematic with respect to child pornography laws because of the illustration style; not only do characters tend to simply appear younger than they may be intended to be, but males are often androgynous, and the Japanese have a taboo against pubic hair. Of course, obscenity laws are supposed to protect works that have serious artistic value, which brings up the additional problem that many people dont consider manga (or comic books generally) to be real art. Even the heavy hitters in the comic world were worried about what a conviction for Handley might mean. Neil Gaiman told MTV News in November: I wrote a story about a serial killer who kidnaps and rapes children, and then murders them [referring to a storyline in 'The Doll's House']. We did that as a comic, not for the purposes of titillation or anything like that, but if you bought that comic, you could be arrested for it? Thats just deeply wrong. Nobody was hurt. The only thing that was hurt were ideas.

 

 

 

We have written before about the issue of obscenity laws possibly going too far, and the common refrain seems to be slippery slope. Obviously the law should take all reasonable steps to prevent child abuse, and this includes child pornography laws; but where should the line be drawn? If its manga now, does this pave the way for Neil Gaiman next, or maybe Alan Moore? You might scoff at that, but you probably would have done so ten years ago as well if Id told you that someone might go to jail for fifteen years because of possessing (not even drawing!) some cartoons.

 

 

 

As to why Handley pled guilty instead of fighting the charges? Supposedly it was partly because he couldnt afford his defense, but the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund was already serving as special consultant for the case and probably would have stepped up some fundraising efforts. Apparently Handleys lawyer also thought he wouldnt be able to convince a jury once they saw the images in question. If they can imagine it, they drew it, he said. Isnt that kind of the whole point of art? No matter how disturbing we might find the finished product, should it be illegal to see it?

 

 

 

It should be noted that (due to a gag order, apparently) we dont actually know what manga titles were problematic for Handley, though some have their ideas. So should you be worried about your own manga collection? If there is anything that might possibly maybe somewhat be considered a depiction of an underage character in a sexual situation, maybe so. As one blogger put it, hope you own a cross-cut paper shredder and an indoor fireplace. Because unfortunately you never know when the justice system might decide to make an example of someone.

 

 

 

http://www.geeksaresexy.net/2009/05/28/ ... in-prison/

 

 

 

Jail time is just ridiculous! Nobody is harmed reading manga and it's wasting the system's time to be finding real pedophiles and child abusers. If we're going to start putting people in jail for reading we might as well ban every movie, show, or book that even implies child abuse!

 

 

 

What do you guys think of this?

[Millard]

40 and still into Manga?

 

 

 

He deserves it.

[Kiriyama]

This is a load of [cabbage].

 

 

 

I mean seriously, it harms no-one, and who knows that the reason why they are charging him is why he bought them or not.

[scootlaboot]

40 and still into Manga?

 

 

 

He deserves it.

 

Putting an age limit to liking something(excluding actual little children) is [developmentally delayed]ed, FYI.

[XxTearGodxX]

Wow that is seriously pretty [bleep]ed up, I mean really the content being delivered by the Post Office is of no business of the Mailman's to make judgment on somebody else, your job is to deliver the mail and that's it.

[mmmcannibalism]

Considering that child pornography is illegal because it inherently involves the exploitation of children, this is utterly ridiculous.

[Robert_de_Sable]

This man should be in prison for a long, long time. Pornography should be illegal, but images depicting child pornography? Please... that's disgusting. This man is a menace to society and deserves all the prison time he gets.

 

 

 

Wow that is seriously pretty [bleep] up, I mean really the content being delivered by the Post Office is of no business of the Mailman's to make judgment on somebody else, your job is to deliver the mail and that's it.

 

I want you to think about how stupid that is.

 

What if I'm a mailman and I notice that there are materials in someone's mail that could theoretically be used to make a bomb? Can I search that? According to you, no, I can't.

[Denismage]

CP is still CP. Drawn or not.

[mmmcannibalism]

Just realized how problematic it is to not have the specific titles involved. We dont know if this is actually pornographic or simply something that involves mature content.

[Kiriyama]

CP is still CP. Drawn or not.

 

 

 

Then lock up everyone who has ever read/watched Elfen Lied.

[kolko]

This man should be in prison for a long, long time. Pornography should be illegal, but images depicting child pornography? Please... that's disgusting. This man is a menace to society and deserves all the prison time he gets.

 

 

Sometimes I think you just find what the general consensus in a topic is and then make your opinion the complete opposite... :(

 

 

 

It is manga. Japanese comics do have a tendency to depict seemingly young children, but they still are comics.

 

 

 

By the way, child pornography depicts children under 18, who can prove that the people depicted in the manga are not 18. They are not real :?:

[Racheya]

CP is still CP. Drawn or not.

 

If it's drawn then who is it exploiting?... oh wait, nobody. CP is wrong because it is cruelly exploiting children, a drawing isn't.

[Wot]

Suing the postman for breach of privacy would make more sence.

[RichieMcD]

It's a very touchy subject.

 

 

 

On one hand I feel it's not hurting anyone as it's cartoons, it's drawn from some odd mind and can often detail some very weird stuff but still......causes no pain to anyone. On the other hand though, it could potentially be a stepping stone to actual child porn for some people, but could stop others from stepping onto child porn :|

 

 

 

I really don't know, the only way I'd ever legalize it is if a reliable study(ies) proved it will do no harm to anyone, I.e it doesn't lead to stepping onto child porn.

 

 

 

Robert, why should pornography be illegal if all parties involved are consenting?

[Faux]

CP is still CP. Drawn or not.

 

If it's drawn then who is it exploiting?... oh wait, nobody. CP is wrong because it is cruelly exploiting children, a drawing isn't.

 

are you serious? people attracted to CP are mentally ill imo

[Racheya]

CP is still CP. Drawn or not.

 

If it's drawn then who is it exploiting?... oh wait, nobody. CP is wrong because it is cruelly exploiting children, a drawing isn't.

 

are you serious? people attracted to CP are mentally ill imo

 

Possibly, but there's a difference between real people and just drawings.

[Dexek]

That's odd, and reason for concern.

 

 

 

*throws away comics about a bank robbery*

[Kiriyama]

CP is still CP. Drawn or not.

 

If it's drawn then who is it exploiting?... oh wait, nobody. CP is wrong because it is cruelly exploiting children, a drawing isn't.

 

are you serious? people attracted to CP are mentally ill imo

 

Possibly, but there's a difference between real people and just drawings.

 

 

 

It doesn't matter, if you are attracted to CP, then there is something wrong with you.

 

 

 

However, CP is not the reason why most people would aquire mangas/anime which contain it, and in some, its that insignificant, its nothing to worry about.

 

 

 

Though I agree there mere drawings are not harming anyone, however, if it goes deeper into CP than just childhood nudity, then I think there is something wrong.

[Jernlov]

I thought that these laws were supposed to prevent proper child pornography; not extend into the realm of art. I fail to understand why there need be such a fuss over loli manga or anything of the related ilk. Am I missing something here? Somebody tell me if I am, but I sure don't think so. "Victims need not exist". BS. They're fictional characters. From what I know of people into this sort of thing, it becomes clear that fictional characters aren't hurting anybody. The United Kingdom passed a similar law recently, and I myself and several of my fellow anime/manga fans are absolutely incensed.

 

 

 

This not only applies to lolicon, but come on. How many anime characters look under 18? A [bleep]ing lot. A five year old getting raped is disturbing, but we can't damn well convict people on the grounds that they saw something disturbing. Get into the real world.

 

 

 

Oh yeah, that appears to be in section 18 of the US Code, section on child pornography must make people feel real secure.

[Will H]

Something has gone wrong here. The reason why CP is illegal is because it exploits children. Nobody is being exploited here, I would have thought that "visual representations of the sexual abuse of children" refers to images or videos of actual CP. Not manga.

 

 

 

I reckon we have a confusion of terms here instead of a government with intentional unjust laws.

[Wot]

Is the porn in the manga book he ordered, and not in the manga he already owns? If so, he might not of known... which just shows how much more this law is BS.

 

If its just one big manga of porno I could understand there being a SMALL punishment (not that i think there should be)

 

But if it just happens in one of the chapters, then there is no real excuse for locking this guy up. The fact that he pleaded guilty, also tells me he doesnt want to course much trouble. I feel for the bloke.

 

 

 

TRUE STORY: Yesterday (before reading this post, if it was even around yesteday) i bought the first volume of .hack, and on one of the first pages there is a side on view of a topless girl... I hope I dont get busted :lol: .

[Dizzle229]

If it's a victimless crime, it's not a crime at all.

 

 

 

He has weird tastes, but he shouldn't be convicted over something so ridiculous.

[fastortoise]

That's odd, and reason for concern.

 

 

 

*throws away comics about a bank robbery*

 

My thoughts exactly. If I have a fantasy for making love to an elderly woman in a pool of green Jello and there happened to be a comic story about it, i'd obviously purchase it. Does that mean I would jump into a pool of Jello with someone? No. There's a difference between fantasy and reality, I suppose the authority didn't have the brain capacity to understand the difference.

[mmmcannibalism]

That's odd, and reason for concern.

 

 

 

*throws away comics about a bank robbery*

 

My thoughts exactly. If I have a fantasy for making love to an elderly woman in a pool of green Jello and there happened to be a comic story about it, i'd obviously purchase it. Does that mean I would jump into a pool of Jello with someone? No. There's a difference between fantasy and reality, I suppose the authority didn't have the brain capacity to understand the difference.

 

 

 

Im not going to able to sleep now

 

 

 

As an added thought, while I disagree with this person being charged; a ban on convicted child rapists having such material would be justified on the same line of reasoning as convicted felons not being allowed to own guns.

[Denismage]

CP is still CP. Drawn or not.

 

If it's drawn then who is it exploiting?... oh wait, nobody. CP is wrong because it is cruelly exploiting children, a drawing isn't.

 

 

 

How can you tell that he won't go looking for a real thing later, and a few months/years after that won't try to abduct a 8 year old?

 

You can't.