Legislature Considering Granting Legal Protection For Sexting

[Henry]

I must be getting old or out of touch, but:

Vermont’s Legislature is considering a bill that, if approved, would make the state one of the first in the nation to grant legal protections to teenagers who send sexually explicit photos and videos to one another with their cell phones.

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20090412/NEWS03/90411019

[MikeF9]

Normally I am not smart enough to get involved in politics and spout off in forums about them, but when I read the headline in the Free Press this morning, my initial reaction was, NO NO NO NO!!!! WHAT IS WRONG WITH THEM!!.
I then read the article. I realize this is a very complicated issue. And once again, the government HAS to get involved in something because the parents are not teaching their kids. Or maybe the government feels like it HAS to get involved.
I really feel this is a parenting issue. Parents need to have control over their children's cell phones if that child is under 18. The parent has a right to check the phone to see who they are calling, who is calling them, what they are texting, etc.
I realize that kids are doing this. And I feel that them sending nude pictures of each other, to each other, is wrong. And someone who is caught should be punished. How severely, that is the extent of the legislation.
Again, this is a very complicated issue, and education is the key.
Unfortunately, schools will end up having to hold community forums for the kids AND the parents about this issue.
I don't have any kids. But I see kids everyday at school, and I see them do things we were never allowed to do when I was in school.
And I see them get away with things. Things that get chalked up to being "a poor choice". Most times it looks like there are no real repercussions.
I don't know.
Again, new technology means new laws because people use it for means they were not intended for.
Parenting and education. First.

[cedarman]

This is a VERY bad idea.  I hope this is ONE bill that Douglas veto's IF it passes the legislature.   I heard a great idea proposed - IF LEGISLATORS WANT TO PROTECT TEENS FROM A SEX OFFENDER LABEL, REVISE THE SEX OFFENDER LAWS TO REQUIRE COUSELING FOR TEENS WHO SEND SEXUALLY EXPLICIT PHOTOS.  Now, that would be a good use of legislation.  Actually making an effort to protect kids and educate them about dangerous behaviour without labeling them for life.

Teens really need to learn there are consequences for their behavior.  Maybe in addition to creating a legal requirement for counseling for kids caught SENDING sexually explicit pictures, the legislature can add a requirement that the parent(s) must attend couseling with their kid.  Make it a family thing.  Maybe parents will become more involved and concerned about what their kids are doing with the cell phones they have and DON'T need.

[Chris Santee]

I received an e-mail from Liz Saxe,
who worls in House Speaker Shap Smith's office.

House Judiciary members discuss new “sexting” proposal

Montpelier, Vt. – House Judiciary Chair Bill Lippert (D-Hinesburg),
Vice Chair Maxine Grad (D-Moretown), Ranking Member Peg Flory
(R-Pittsford) and Representatives Willem Jewett (D-Ripton), Andrew
Donaghy (R-Poultney), Cynthia Martin (D-Springfield) and Richard Marek
(D-Newfane) today discussed a proposal to create a new offense for
teenage “sexting.”  Reps. Flory and Jewett presented the proposal to
the House Judiciary Committee this afternoon.

“Our goal in proposing this alternative is to make it clear that
sending indecent pictures is not acceptable behavior,” said Rep.
Jewett.  “But, we also want to ensure that parents are involved and
that kids don’t have a permanent criminal record or spend their life
on the sex offender registry.”

“This is a common sense proposal that reflects the realities of our
changing world,” said Rep. Flory.  “Kids need to know that
‘sexting’ is an offense and they need to understand why the state
considers it dangerous.”

The proposal would create a new offense that applies only to minors who
send indecent photographs electronically.  This new offense would be
punishable, at the prosecutor’s discretion, by either civil penalties
– including diversion – or criminal penalties to be handled through
juvenile court.  The retransmission of indecent photographs would remain
a very serious offense, subject to existing charges, including stiffer
penalties.

Rep. Grad added a provision directing the sexual violence prevention
task force to include in its education and outreach efforts for teens,
parents and communities, information on why “sexting” is dangerous.
“It’s important not only to establish a new offense, but to also
make sure all of our teens, families and communities understand the
risks involved in this behavior,” said Rep. Grad.  “This measure
supports and strengthens our families while helping to keep our
communities safer.”