VA- 'Sexting' should make us rethink law and kids

3-17-2009 Virginia:

This is in reference to the March 11 article about the recent "sexting" arrests in Spotsylvania County ["'Sexting' charges faced by 2 teens," March 11].

As a father of two boys and two girls, I can only imagine the anguish that the parents of both the boys and the girls involved in this must be going through.

I am, however, deeply troubled with the way the law has been applied in this case.

According to the article, two boys were each charged with possession of child pornography with intent to distribute and electronic solicitation.

Why were the girls who were involved in this case not also charged? Assuming they used their cell phones to snap pictures of themselves and then send those pictures to the boys in this case, they (the girls) created the pornographic images.

While it is sad that kids are doing this, they are kids. A 13-year-old girl has the same capacity as a boy to say "no" and act appropriately.

The boys shouldn't be asking for pictures like that, and the girls shouldn't be so willing to comply with the request!

Just as I would not want to see a 13-year-old girl prosecuted for this type of action, I would also not want to see a 15-year-old boy labeled as a sex offender for asking to see naked pictures.

I hope as a result of this case, the legislature reviews and updates the law based on current technology and standards.

I also hope that parents spend a little more time with their kids. I find it amazing that so many kids 16 and under have cell phones to begin with.

What is even more amazing to me is that parents aren't checking what their kids are doing with the cell phones. ..News Source.. by Paul Delagrange, Spotsylvania