Your argument assumes that the majority of people who possess child pornography engaged in some kind of trade for it. I am not sure that is true anymore, given

Your argument assumes that the majority of people who possess child pornography engaged in some kind of trade for it. I am not sure that is true anymore, given its prevalence on P2P networks and blogs, forums, etc. "If prosecutors had to prove that the offender purchased the material in every case, it would create a very high burden for law enforcement" You make this sound like a bad thing -- having a high burden of proof before we throw people in jail and restrict where they can live after their release from prison.