In a controversial move, the German Parliament has reportedly passed a bill that downgrades the possession of child sexual abuse materials from a felony to a misdemeanor. The decision, issued on Thursday, has sparked concern among conservative lawmakers and activists.

Under the new legislation, possession and acquisition of child pornography will be punishable with a minimum sentence of three months imprisonment, while distribution will carry a minimum sentence of six months imprisonment. This revision reclassifies these offenses as misdemeanors, rather than crimes. The bill successfully secured a majority of votes in the Parliament, according to Reduxx.

Prior to this change, a 2021 reform had upgraded the offense to a felony, carrying a minimum sentence of one year. It is important to note that the maximum penalties introduced in 2021 will still remain in place, according to parliament sources.

Trump's Sovereign Wealth Fund: What Could It Mean For Your Money?

Opposition to the bill has emerged from the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Christian Social Union of Bavaria (CSU), as stated in a press release. The CDU asserts that the distribution, possession, and acquisition of child pornography should remain classified as crimes. While acknowledging certain practical challenges arising from the increased penalty range, the CDU argues against a blanket reduction in the penalty range. Instead, they propose limiting changes to specific problem cases to address them effectively.

In defense of the bill, parliament justifies its decision by highlighting instances where parents and teachers, who discovered child pornography material on older children or adolescents and shared it with other parents, were disproportionately punished by the 2021 reforms. This reasoning was presented in a March press release.

Surprisingly, the pro-pedophile activist group Krumme-13, also known as K13, has praised the bill. In a blog post authored by Dieter Gieseking, published on May 17, the group celebrates the parliament’s decision, claiming that it “withdraws the unconstitutional tightening of punishments.” Gieseking, who has faced charges related to alleged possession of child pornography, is the founder of K13, as noted by Reduxx.

The German federal government, in its draft bill, acknowledges the need for reform based on feedback and demands from various sources. It states that the 2021 law failed to guarantee the appropriate reaction to the crime and guilt in each individual case. The Conference of Justice Ministers of the Länder supports the call for reform, as mentioned in the Parliament’s statement.

This Could Be the Most Important Video Gun Owners Watch All Year

Critics argue that the bill lacks specific legal exceptions for certain scenarios and instead broadly downgrades child pornography possession as a crime. This omission has raised concerns about the potential implications of the new legislation.

The decision to downgrade the possession of child sexual abuse materials has generated heated debate between lawmakers, activists, and concerned citizens. As the bill becomes law, the impact of this change will undoubtedly be closely monitored by those in favor of stricter penalties for such heinous crimes.

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of RVM News. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.