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Vermont May Legalize Sexting—Between Teens

Bill moving through legislature to legalize sexually explicit teen communications

By Gabriel Winant, Newser User

Posted Apr 14, 2009 10:45 AM CDT

(Newser) – Vermont’s state government is in an awkward position. Current law has the state prosecuting teens who send sexually explicit pictures of themselves to each other—sexting—as sex offenders. The state Senate has passed a bill to exempt an exchange of images between people between 13 and 18 years old from classification as child pornography, reports the Burlington Free Press, and the state House will take up the bill this week.

Not that legislators like it. “This isn’t an issue of whether it’s a good thing or a bad thing—I think it’s wrong—but the question is, do we want kids to be prosecuted, called sex offenders,” asks a state senator. That's why legalization has gotten broad support from prosecutors, defense attorneys, law enforcement, and women’s groups. The lawyer for one teen on trial for a sexting-related offense agrees. “It seems ridiculous to hold someone criminally responsible for an otherwise mundane act.”

[Images (1)]

[Quotes (1)]

Tyler Barnett begins to write a text message on his cell phone in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)

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The technology makes it
the crime. The act here is
sending the photo. There’s
no sexual act performed - T.J. Donovan, Chittenden County
State's Attorney

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 5 comments

justme

Apr 15, 2009 12:20 PM CDT

So where do you draw the line? What if these same shots are collected and sold to pedophiles? What if these include the addresses of the kids? Less scary perhaps but what if the shots are just past around to embarrass the youngsters involved?

freethemall

Apr 15, 2009 1:47 AM CDT

You draw the line by not arresting me if I happen to still have those pictures, which I may have stored away somewhere.

Addyp

Apr 15, 2009 1:07 AM CDT

Parents: Stop the kids. Put them in jail! Translation: Stop those kids because we are old and can't have any good sex! BAWWWW!!! Teens: GTFO

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Politics • Crime & Courts • Lifestyle • Technology

cell phones • Vermont • text message • child pornography • state legislature • teen sex • sexting

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Vermont May Legalize Sexting—Between Teens