Should "sexting" be a criminal act?

7-24-2009 National:

"Sexting" is one of the unfortunate byproducts of the current electronic era. Underage teens have submitted nude photographs of either themselves or others electronically, through email and instant messages via the internet.

Back in 2007, nude photos of teen star sensation Vanessa Hudgens made their rounds on the Net. The sweet faced High School Musical Star with the shy smile did hot herself publish the photos, but she did admit to having them taken, saying they were meant to be "private." The uproar over the photos lastest for days, but fortunately, Ms. Hudgens was able to weather the storm, thanks to the support of her family, friends, fans and her boyfriend, High School Musical co-star, Zac Efron.

Other sexting subjects have not been as lucky. An 18 year-old Ohio high school student committed suicide in 2008 after her ex-boyfriend passed around her nude photos. Other girls in the school, who had gotten hold of the pictures bullied her viciously. After appearing on a local television news program to discuss "sexting", and then attending a friend's funeral, the girl hung herself in her bedroom.

In January, 2009, six Pennsylvania teens were charged with felony child pornography crimes when three females sent nude photos of themselves to their three male friends. Wyoming County District Attorney George Skumanick threatened to prosecute the teens to the full extent of the law, including long terms of imprisonment and registration as sex offenders unless they attended a six month re-education program designed to teach the girls why their actions were wrong and what it means to be af girl in today's society. The three girl's and their families refused to accept the DA's offer. Instead, they filed suit in federal court seeking injunctive relief. The federal district judge ultimately issued a restraining order against the DA's office. ..Source.. by Rosanne O'Malley