http://www.google.com:80/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jsrbCalSOh55knLKgtUIS0ZgVo4QD9BLGBUO0

quote....

OKLAHOMA CITY — Teenagers may think it's harmless, but sending sexually explicit pictures and messages over cell phones can lead to emotional problems and criminal charges that will affect them for the rest of their lives, criminal justice officials said.

Investigators and prosecutors on Thursday warned of the dangers of electronically transmitting racy images and words at a hearing organized by Rep. Anastasia Pittman, D-Oklahoma City, into the practice of "sexting," distributing nude or seminude self-portraits over cell phones.

"Sexting alone just by itself will land a kid in jail," Pittman said. "They are not aware of the implications, the consequences. It's their future that we're trying to save."

Pittman said she hopes to craft a bill for the Legislature to consider next year that will clarify language in existing criminal statutes that could be used to prosecute teens who send or receive naughty images of themselves or others.

"What I'm trying to do is be proactive," Pittman said. Major concerns are the long-term consequences of filing a felony child pornography or indecent exposure charges against a minor and requiring them to register as a sex offender.

"We want to educate our children on the very real effects," Pittman said.

Kim Sardis, juvenile services division director for the Oklahoma Office of Juvenile Affairs, said at least 10 cases have been referred to state juvenile courts since 2005 involving teens accused of distributing or possessing child pornography. Three of the cases involved the distribution of images over a cell phone.

Trent Baggett of the Oklahoma District Attorney's Council said he is not aware of any "sexting" cases prosecuted in adult courts. But the practice has led to child pornography charges against teens in several states.

Several states have adopted legislation to define and prohibit "sexting." Pittman said a law went into effect in Colorado this year that adds obscene text messages to the list of acts that can be prosecuted under state child pornography and harassment statutes.

In Vermont, a new law permits prosecutors to send teenage "sexting" cases to juvenile courts to eliminate the stigma of child pornography convictions.

Earlier this year, three Pennsylvania high school girls who sent seminude photos and four male students who received them were all hit with child pornography charges. In Ohio, a 15-year-old high school girl faced similar charges for sending her own racy cell phone photos to classmates.

"Obviously, they should be held accountable," Baggett said of teens who engage in "sexting." But prosecutors need to handle felony cases involving teens appropriately and recognize the long-term consequences of a conviction.

Information distributed by Baggett indicates that nationally, 9 percent of children aged 13 have shared nude photos with cell phones or other electronic means and 24 percent of 17-year-olds have engaged in the practice. A total of 20 percent of all teens acknowledge sharing nude photos.

Jennifer McLaughlin of the Oklahoma Coalition against Domestic Violence said the suicide of an Ohio girl last year was attributed to the bullying and humiliation she experienced after she sent a nude cell phone photograph to her boyfriend at the time, who later forwarded it to several other girls.

Heath Merchen, a former prosecutor who is now legal counsel for the Oklahoma Education Association, urged parents to check their child's cell phone for inappropriate images or texts.

"If you don't, the consequences are severe," Merchen said. "Reputations are destroyed. Kids' lives are destroyed."

end quote...

I'm sad to say I'm torn...

1. i have 3 kids and want them protected...BUT

2. I hate that another blue law (democrat sponsored just to show it's not repubs doing it) has to be pushed

....

comments welcome

You're being silly this isn't a party line vote, it's a "protect the children" line.  

So you're okay with protecting your kids, but not if that protection comes from a dem?

Originally posted by streea

So you're okay with protecting your kids, but not if that protection comes from a dem?

Exactly.

This post further shows that Faxxer doesn't think for himself.  Just find the conservative position and go with it, regardless of his own thoughts.

Thanks for exposing yourself.

 ...

Gee Golly Wally...

you guys clearly heard it how you wanted to hear it..

Allow me to clarify.

I don't like BLUE laws AT ALL. 

but you LIBS like to point out time and time and time again in MANY of these very threads how it's "conservatives pushing our morals" on you guys.

so in THAT context...ya...i think it has merrit to show it's a dem initiative.

it's DEMS/LIBS that want to push the whopper tax on us.

it's DEMS/LIBS that want the soda tax on us.

it's DEMS/LIBS that want to tax our dead grandpa that worked his ass off to make a life for his family after he's dead.

so ya...it is worth making mention.

carry on liberal line toters.

Originally posted by Faxxer

 

Gee Golly Wally...

you guys clearly heard it how you wanted to hear it..

Allow me to clarify.

I don't like BLUE laws AT ALL. 

but you LIBS like to point out time and time and time again in MANY of these very threads how it's "conservatives pushing our morals" on you guys.

so in THAT context...ya...i think it has merrit to show it's a dem initiative.

it's DEMS/LIBS that want to push the whopper tax on us.

it's DEMS/LIBS that want the soda tax on us.

it's DEMS/LIBS that want to tax our dead grandpa that worked his ass off to make a life for his family after he's dead.

so ya...it is worth making mention.

carry on liberal line toters.

You call us liberal line toters even though you just said...I agree with this law, but I don't like it because dems approve it.

Oh the massive hypocrisy.

Originally posted by paulscott

You're being silly this isn't a party line vote, it's a "protect the children" line.  

How is it protecting the children?  Laws are being broke are they not?  This bill would simply make it more lenient on children so that's not protecting anyone.  Once again, government wants to pass laws to cure problems.  The real problem is with the parents not teaching and raising their children correctly. 

Instead of laws how about spending some of that stimulus money in getting the word out that no matter how old you are 'sexting' is against the law? 

And edit,

Laws don't protect anything.  Get that through your head.  Laws simply provide punishment after the fact. 

Blue laws are laws that people think actually protect or are proactive in nature.  So yes, it's another blue law. 

Originally posted by Sargoth

Originally posted by paulscott

You're being silly this isn't a party line vote, it's a "protect the children" line.  

 

How is it protecting the children?  Laws are being broke are they not?  This bill would simply make it more lenient on children so that's not protecting anyone.  Once again, government wants to pass laws to cure problems.  The real problem is with the parents not teaching and raising their children correctly. 

Instead of laws how about spending some of that stimulus money in getting the word out that no matter how old you are 'sexting' is against the law? 

 

And edit,

Laws don't protect anything.  Get that through your head.  Laws simply provide punishment after the fact. 

Blue laws are laws that people think actually protect or are proactive in nature.  So yes, it's another blue law. 

I guess the "protect the children" line doesn't come up often for it to be something that I normally disagree with.    But the point is that no matter "which" party was in power someone would have wanted to do something so that they're doing something.

More and more I see laws like these offloading responsibilities of the parents. People will probably say parents these days don't have time or the proper  "resources" to raise their children properly and teach them respect. They could pass billions of laws trying to help and protect children but in the end its the responsibility of adults to guide and look out for our own. The more laws that are passed are just more excuses people can use to be lazy parents. IMO opinion no matter what a child does you can probably almost always track the cause back to the parents. If you don't have the time or want to put forth the effort to properly raise your children, don't have any.

Originally posted by paulscott

Originally posted by Sargoth

Originally posted by paulscott

You're being silly this isn't a party line vote, it's a "protect the children" line.  

 

How is it protecting the children?  Laws are being broke are they not?  This bill would simply make it more lenient on children so that's not protecting anyone.  Once again, government wants to pass laws to cure problems.  The real problem is with the parents not teaching and raising their children correctly. 

Instead of laws how about spending some of that stimulus money in getting the word out that no matter how old you are 'sexting' is against the law? 

 

And edit,

Laws don't protect anything.  Get that through your head.  Laws simply provide punishment after the fact. 

Blue laws are laws that people think actually protect or are proactive in nature.  So yes, it's another blue law. 

 

I guess the "protect the children" line doesn't come up often for it to be something that I normally disagree with.    But the point is that no matter "which" party was in power someone would have wanted to do something so that they're doing something.

Ahh yes, something.  I'm so glad the government does something.  For a minute I might think that they are there just collecting a paycheck and not fucking up the country.  Everyone is always glad the gov is doing something but ask yourself this, does something always need to be done? 

Am I missing something or is the article actually about proposing NEW legislation that modifies EXISTING legislation that turns children that "sext" into felons? 

Why're you pitching partisan rhetoric over the new legislation, when it doesn't even have a form yet? As for the existing laws, which it seems you're actually arguing about rather than the possible changes the article brings up, what makes it a "blue law"? When was the existing law passed and what were the party votes if blue vs. red is going to be played?

Does it really even matter? While I highly doubt Oklahoma has very many "blue laws", even if this were one and you agreed to it, why not take it as an opportunity to find identity amongst conservative Democrats as well?

Stop with the blue vs. red shit already. Support what you support and those that support the same, regardless of party lines and preset ideology.

Some can never move beyond a party line...  I wish more parents "parented' their children in this country.

Originally posted by kiddyno071

Some can never move beyond a party line...  I wish more parents "parented' their children in this country.

I think that is partly because there are so many that preach that there can only be two parties in this country. 

Originally posted by Sargoth

Originally posted by kiddyno071

Some can never move beyond a party line...  I wish more parents "parented' their children in this country.

 

I think that is partly because there are so many that preach that there can only be two parties in this country. 

Yeap, the dichotomy of the left v. right ideologies seems to discourage finding common ground or beliefs.

Originally posted by kiddyno071

Originally posted by Sargoth

Originally posted by kiddyno071

Some can never move beyond a party line...  I wish more parents "parented' their children in this country.

 

I think that is partly because there are so many that preach that there can only be two parties in this country. 

 

Yeap, the dichotomy of the left v. right ideologies seems to discourage finding common ground or beliefs.

ya, i want to find common ground with a group that wants to invalidate the constitution and the freedoms that so many have died for protecting.  I want to find common ground with a group that thinks an unborn child is just a slab of meat that's an inconvenience and can be removed with a pill rather than face their own responsibilities in life.

no thanks.

i stopped at 2 examples.  there are plenty more.

..and there will be a price to pay for them too.

Originally posted by Faxxer

ya, i want to find common ground with a group that wants to invalidate the constitution and the freedoms that so many have died for protecting.  I want to find common ground with a group that thinks an unborn child is just a slab of meat that's an inconvenience and can be removed with a pill rather than face their own responsibilities in life.

no thanks.

i stopped at 2 examples.  there are plenty more.

 

..and there will be a price to pay for them too.

Thank you.  You have proven my point nicely.

Originally posted by kiddyno071

Originally posted by Sargoth

Originally posted by kiddyno071

Some can never move beyond a party line...  I wish more parents "parented' their children in this country.

 

I think that is partly because there are so many that preach that there can only be two parties in this country. 

 

Yeap, the dichotomy of the left v. right ideologies seems to discourage finding common ground or beliefs.

Yup, the left wants to free your penis and steal  your wallet. The right wants to cut off your penis and let you keep you wallet.

The libertarian middle wants to let you keep BOTH your wallet and your penis.

WE are the true moderates :)

Originally posted by kiddyno071

Originally posted by Faxxer

ya, i want to find common ground with a group that wants to invalidate the constitution and the freedoms that so many have died for protecting.  I want to find common ground with a group that thinks an unborn child is just a slab of meat that's an inconvenience and can be removed with a pill rather than face their own responsibilities in life.

no thanks.

i stopped at 2 examples.  there are plenty more.

 

..and there will be a price to pay for them too.

 

Thank you.  You have proven my point nicely.

your point is meaningless in the context of the above i mentioned.

Originally posted by Fishermage

Originally posted by kiddyno071

Originally posted by Sargoth

Originally posted by kiddyno071

Some can never move beyond a party line...  I wish more parents "parented' their children in this country.

 

I think that is partly because there are so many that preach that there can only be two parties in this country. 

 

Yeap, the dichotomy of the left v. right ideologies seems to discourage finding common ground or beliefs.

 

Yup, the left wants to free your penis and steal  your wallet. The right wants to cut off your penis and let you keep you wallet.

The libertarian middle wants to let you keep BOTH your wallet and your penis.

WE are the true moderates :)

Both on-topic and informative! I'm impressed!