Please clarify for me Reddit - Why is SOPA so terrible?

I'm an internet user and an avid fan of media in all it's forms, but I am also a fair-minded kind of guy, so I want to, in the spirit of advancement, help you help me. I am not opposed to SOPA.

Insofar as I can determine, SOPA is simply the only piece of legislation Congress could come up with that would let them finally put an end to torrenting of pirated movies, music, and other copyrighted material. I will use torrenting as a sort of generic example from now on, though I understand that it is only one effect of the legislation. What I have to say applies to it all.

Now, I am all for free speech and anything connected to it, but I do not recognize anyone's right to steal movies or music - I have a huge collection of music that is more precious to me than my right arm, but I've paid for it. Now, I understand that SOPA would give the government power to shut down just about any website that is displaying copyrighted material without authorization, et cetera, but, strictly speaking, isn't that... illegal?

Just saying, I don't think anyone has the right to take these goods without payment. Maybe SOPA, broad-ranging though it may be, would actually be able to put an end to this. Yeah, it would suck. Yes, music costs money. Oh no.

Is the issue that we think the government will abuse this power and take down any website they disagree with? Are we that cynical? Maybe, I guess. Is the issue that I don't understand SOPA at all? Very Possibly.

Reddit, please don't think I've made up my mind about this - I'm counting on you to show me some good counter-arguments. I, like any rational person, am willing to defend in logical debate my beliefs. Let me have it, et cetera et cetera.

Sincerely,

Just Another Redditor