Colorado prosecutors and police asked for new laws to address teen sexting after a high-profile scandal pushed the issue into the spotlight.
But now, as legislators work to heed those calls, moving through the legislature is facing opposition from groups that worry a new measure being considered could do more harm than good.
What the bill would do:
The bill aims to make it a Class 2 misdemeanor offense for any juvenile to distribute, display, publish or possess any sexually explicit image of a child, including of him or herself. That’s a far cry from the harsh punishment offenders can face under Colorado law as it stands, which sees sexting as a felony.
Authorities say the bill would provide them with a better tool to prosecute teen sexting cases.
Why there is pushback:
Activists, however, say that while the bill is a good start, it doesn’t do enough to protect victims, vilifies the consensual exchange of nude images and is trying to halt a practice that cannot be stopped.
An in-depth look:
