By Nick Philips, Editor

I’m baffled.

Something has just completely made me sick to my stomach.

Somehow, watching child pornography in the state of New York is no longer a state crime. People who are interested in that kind of nasty stuff are allowed to view it. However, they cannot own child pornography. That is a crime. Viewing it is still a federal law, though.

The New York Court of Appeals dismissed two child pornography possession charges against 65 year-old James D. Kent. The court ruled that Kent did not commit a crime since he only looked at it.

Who said that is still alright? In my opinion, anything child pornography-related is completely messed up. I am having a hard time understanding how someone can participate in looking at it and not get reprimanded in any way, shape or form for doing so. It is not right. Many people in New York can get to see this disgusting stuff now with less fear of being reprimanded since it is not a state crime.

Viewing child porn, sadly, is not a crime in New York. It’s only illegal under federal law. In North Carolina, bingo games are not allowed to surpass five hours unless they are being held at a fair. You can’t play bingo for more than five hours in North Carolina, but you can view child porn in New York. There is something extremely wrong with this picture. Maybe I’m just going crazy.