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Jed Boal and Tom Callan reportingAccording to state prosecutors, Internet trafficking in child pornography has exploded in recent years.
State and federal lawmakers are pushing several bills aimed at tightening the noose on those who exploit children.
A new public service announcement depicts the terror experienced by victims of child pornography; a growing market on the Internet.
In a new campaign, state and federal lawmakers plan to toughen enforcement of laws and increase public awareness.
Deb Hobbins knows the horror of child abuse. A mother of 10, four of her children were repeatedly raped by a neighbor. She advocates more resources for investigators targeting those who abuse children. "Get them off the street is the most significant thing they can do," says Hobbins.
State legislators are sponsoring several bills to give law enforcement more tools to go after child pornographers; especially those who dodge prosecution on the edges of the law.
House Bill 183 expands the law to prosecute those who view child pornography, not just those who peddle the pictures.
Sen. Orrin Hatch is working to add agents and a national data network. "It makes me very sad and very concerned for our children, and it makes me angry that these criminals who leave our children with permanent physical and emotional scars are getting away with it," says Hatch.
"Pornographers and their accomplices are constantly digging up ways to harm our children. We are committed to provide legal weapons to put these monsters down," says Senate President John Valentine.
According to the Utah Attorney General's Office, child pornography is now a multi-billion dollar industry involving more than 100,000 Web sites. One study found that 80 percent of the child porn images involved children ages 6-12 and 19 percent had images of infants and toddlers.
You can find that public service announcement and a lot more educational information on the multi-pronged attack on child pornography by going to the related link.
