HARRISBURG -
State lawmakers are considering a bill that would define punishments for teens who "sext," or send nude or explicit photos with cell phones, but the American Civil Liberties Union says the proposed law is not the right move.
Felony child porn charges have been filed recently against several teens caught sexting in different cases all over the country.
If they're convicted, that could mean they will be listed as sex offenders for the rest of their lives. The Pennsylvania bill, H.B. 2189, aims to change that by making sexting a misdemeanor, similar to a crime like shoplifting.
Andy Hoover, Legislative Director for the ACLU in Harrisburg, said the bill is a "government takeover of parenting." Hoover said even a misdemeanor conviction has serious lifelong consequences.
"Kids who engage in this behavior are acting irresponsibly, but not necessarily criminally," Hoover said. "It would be difficult for them to apply to college, apply for financial aid, get a job, enlist in the military. It has a major impact on their lives."
Dr. Rollyn Ornstein, M.D., is an adolescent medicine physician at Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital. Ornstein said sexting is the result of a powerful mixture of technology and hormones.
"Part of that process has to do with some sexual experimentation and exploration," Ornstein said. "Historically teenagers have been doing things like that. It's not new," she said.
The bill's chief sponsor, Rep. Seth Grove (R - 196th Dist.) said there have to be consequences for sexting.
"It's a common sense approach," Grove said. "You don't want to say, 'go ahead and do it,' because really you're promulgating child pornography."
The Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association supports the bill. The group says making sexting a misdemeanor is the best compromise.
"It can be expunged. There are consent decrees in the juvenile court system so there is no record," association executive director Michael Piecuch said. "It has to be addressed. We can't look the other way."
Felony child porn charges have been filed recently against several teens caught sexting in different cases all over the country.
If they're convicted, that could mean they will be listed as sex offenders for the rest of their lives. The Pennsylvania bill, H.B. 2189, aims to change that by making sexting a misdemeanor, similar to a crime like shoplifting.
Andy Hoover, Legislative Director for the ACLU in Harrisburg, said the bill is a "government takeover of parenting." Hoover said even a misdemeanor conviction has serious lifelong consequences.
"Kids who engage in this behavior are acting irresponsibly, but not necessarily criminally," Hoover said. "It would be difficult for them to apply to college, apply for financial aid, get a job, enlist in the military. It has a major impact on their lives."
Dr. Rollyn Ornstein, M.D., is an adolescent medicine physician at Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital. Ornstein said sexting is the result of a powerful mixture of technology and hormones.
"Part of that process has to do with some sexual experimentation and exploration," Ornstein said. "Historically teenagers have been doing things like that. It's not new," she said.
The bill's chief sponsor, Rep. Seth Grove (R - 196th Dist.) said there have to be consequences for sexting.
"It's a common sense approach," Grove said. "You don't want to say, 'go ahead and do it,' because really you're promulgating child pornography."
The Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association supports the bill. The group says making sexting a misdemeanor is the best compromise.
"It can be expunged. There are consent decrees in the juvenile court system so there is no record," association executive director Michael Piecuch said. "It has to be addressed. We can't look the other way."
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