A three-judge panel in Pennsylvania recently decided that looking at child pornography on the Internet -- without saving or downloading images -- does not amount to "knowing possession" of child pornography as described in Pennsylvania's Crimes and Offenses Code.

The Pennsylvania superior court ruled prosecutors must prove that those images have been downloaded and saved for charges to be filed.

Many Web sites contain pop-up ads to other seedy Web sites that may contain child pornography.

This new ruling protects those individuals who may have accidentally viewed child pornography in these instances.

It is reasonable to protect citizens from being unfairly prosecuted because of an accidental mouse click.

But let's look at the big picture: this ruling really facilitates the viewing of child pornography for hundreds of would-be child molesters across Pennsylvania.

No longer do they have to fear prosecution for looking at child pornography online.

Now, the Centre County District Attorney office -- which has been moving toward a new approach for prosecuting child pornography -- has another hurdle to jump before reaching its goal of harsher sentences for child porn offenders.

In the world we live in today, where there are over 30 registered sex offenders in State College alone, according to Pennsylvania's Megan Law Web site, why should the government facilitate the viewing of child pornography?

The government claims it wants to crack down on child pornography and keep our children safe from exploitation.

But then you have rulings like this that completely negate the efforts of hundreds of individuals and communities that are doing everything possible to protect children by keeping child pornography off the Internet and away from potentially dangerous individuals.

It just doesn't make much sense, and if "knowing possession" dictates that it's OK to look at child porn online without downloading it, then maybe the Pennsylvania's Crimes and Offenses Code needs to be revised.