It is not illegal to read a news account, or work of fiction, about child porn. It is illegal to own it. This is a truly murky area here, but let me pose a question: Has the availability of regular porn (not child porn) slowed down the rate of unwanted pregnancies or or transmission of sexual disease in the world? I hate to sound like I advocate the idea of thought crime, but ownership of child porn shows an interest in sex with children. I don't for a minute believe that that picture is going to stop a child rapist from going out and raping a child, nor do I believe that viewing it will turn you into a child raping mega monster. I do see intentionally owning and viewing such items as a large step beyond mere fantasy, and while I don't think it is on par with actually raping a child, I think that collectors of child porn need to intercepted, and if not jailed perhaps treated.
Also, owning an item that was illegal to produce in the first place does need to be illegal. At the very least you have willingly participated in the distribution of an illegal product, which carries certain responsibilities at any rate. Bottom line here is that regardless of whether you think ownership should be illegal or not, it is. Owners of child porn have already, by owning it in a society that punishes ownership so harshly, shown a lack of self control on the subject of child sex, and feel that it is worth the risk of literally life destroying consequences just to own it. Do you have children? Do you really want these people in society with your children?