'Gotcha' Shows Aimed at Nabbing Sexual Predators Raise Controversy

[Hydrae]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

I think the shows perform a service, but Hanson's "jokes" get pretty old. I'm guessing he gets caught at some point himself.

I do have a question though: If no child is endangered (people are pretending to be underage), what is the crime? I suppose one could argue intent, but couldn't the perv claim that he, also, was "pretending" that the person was a child while he knew all along that it was someone older? It would be a hard sell, but it might have some legal legs.

That is my concern, the entrapment aspects of the whole thing.

I have watched a couple of these shows (I am a parent after all) and am not sure how I feel about this. Obviously at least some of these guys should not be out in public. Some though really seem to come across as having gotten caught up in the moment of the flirtations on-line and get in over thier heads. Not trying to make excuses, it just seems a little too aggressive in how they lure these guys in.