Prosecuting teens for pictures of themselves

In addition to what’s written in this article, I understand the one girl who participated in this activity is being required to register as a sex offender. It’s basically about prosecuting teenage girls for child pornography for taking pictures of themselves and sending them to friends. Frankly it floors me!!

http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202429399530

The claim is that they are prosecuting them for their own good to teach them a lesson and set examples so that other girls won't do it. These laws are designed to protect these kids from predators. It seems a lot like prosecuting the potential victim.

They may need to learn a lesson, but it's a lesson that's up to their parents, not the law!!! Since when does the government get to mandate self protection behavior. - wait- they do that a lot don't they- another problem and another discussion- still it's mom and dad's job to teach their kids to watch their own back and avoid potentially risky behavior. Are they going to start prosecuting teenage girls for hanging out with dangerous boys? What about skirts that are too short? Walking alone at night? What about the 21 year old girl who got drunk then raped- gonna prosecute her for being drunk? Their stupid- send them to jail??? Or at least threaten them so you can force them to be indoctrinated into your position about these behavior choices. At what point does the government NOt have the right to legislate/ mandate good sense?

This prosecutor is basically blackmailing these families into doing what he thinks is a good idea, through prosecutorial threats. That's illegal in and of itself, right?

They shouldn't engage in this behavior, BUT they have a right to. It's not the governments place to tell people they can't do what they shouldn't do- there is a big difference- even if they are children. ( Again mom and dad)

This is frightening on a personal expression issue, a parenting rights issue and a general purposes issue. The government has too much power and too much of a design on more power.

Note: that two of the three girls being prosecuted for child pornography were in underwear and actually had all of the "private" parts covered. SO if I did agree at all with the idea that the subject of child pornography could reasonably be prosecuted for posing for the picture, the pictures would still not rise to the level of pornography!

It bothers me on so many levels!!!