ALBUQUERQUE, NM (CNN Newsource) -- New legislation in New Mexico would make sexting legal between teenagers.
The bill has some parents alarmed.
"I think it's very dangerous," one person said.
Most parents and grandparents agree that it's a dangerous situation.
"It's a way that children can exploit other children," father and grandfather Hal Schultz said.
They don't want their kids sexting, but a bill waiting for the governor's signature would make it legal in New Mexico.
As long as it's just between teens, the bill would create harsher penalties for those distributing or possessing child porn.
But it would also allow minors, ages 14 to 17, to share nude photos with each other and not be prosecuted, as long as it's consensual.
"They don't have enough life experience to be able to have that autonomy without parents being aware," one person said.
Right now, teens could be prosecuted for sexual exploitation if they share pornographic images.
But often they're put into supervision or rehab programs instead.
The new bill would make it so law enforcement couldn't get involved in the first place, and some think that's a good idea.
"I don't think we need to be tying titles to these kids for the rest of their lives," father Tom Lewis said.
Others did not think allowing the bill to be passed is a good idea.
"If they think it's not illegal they're not all of a sudden going to turn 18 and discontinue doing that illegal activity," Schultz said.
Attorney General Hector Balderas agrees, and says sharing child porn is still a federal crime.
He says this bill would not prevent the feds from prosecuting sexting cases.
A spokesperson says Governor Martinez shares some parental concerns, but says she must consider the entire bill and calls it an important step forward in cracking down on child porn.
She has until March 9 to decide.
