ShyGuyInChicago
September 27th, 2011, 07:55 PM
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/bronx/pol_on_team_gaga_AfSZDHDNldUBYxVipJ50sM
ALBANY -- Taking a page from Lady Gaga, a Bronx state lawmaker plans to introduce a bill making “bullycide” a felony, The Post has learned.
Sen. Jeff Klein plans to unveil his bill today to stiffen penalties for online bullying and stalking.
Gaga, who sings about acceptance of gays and lesbians, said via Twitter last week that she wants to discuss the growing problem with President Obama following the recent suicide of Jamey Rodemeyer.
The 14-year-old suburban Buffalo boy had complained in a Web video about being taunted online and bullied because he was gay.
BRIAN BRANCH PRICE
UNLIKELY DUET: Bronx state Sen. Jeff Klein is singing Lady Gaga’s tune, pushing to make “bullycide” a felony.
Klein, a Democrat, cited Jamey’s death and that of Rutgers freshman Tyler Clementi, 18, who jumped off the George Washington Bridge last year after two classmates taped him during a sexual encounter with another man and broadcast it on the Internet.
“Words can kill,” the lawmaker said.
He said his bill would expand second-degree manslaughter to include “bullycide,” or death by cyberbullying, when the perpetrator “intentionally or recklessly causes the victim of such offense to commit suicide.” It would be a Class C felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
Klein’s bill would also update third-degree stalking to include cyberbullying, defined as using electronic communications likely to cause fear of harm or emotional distress in someone under 21. That’s a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to a year.
In his video, Jamey identified Lady Gaga as his idol.
A report by the state Senate’s Independent Democratic Conference, led by Klein, cites National Crime Prevention Council statistics that show cyberbullying affects almost half of all US teens, causing low self-esteem, frustration, shock, depression and anxiety.
The IDC also references an Iowa State University study that last year found 54 percent of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender and allied youths are regular victims of cyberbullying.
Klein said the other IDC members -- Diane Savino (D-SI), David Carlucci (D-Rockland County) and David Valesky (D-Madison County) -- support the bill.
I am not sure how I feel about this; however, I am leaning towards cyberbullying to become a crime because it can be considered a form of harassment, especially if it happens repeatedly.
ALBANY -- Taking a page from Lady Gaga, a Bronx state lawmaker plans to introduce a bill making “bullycide” a felony, The Post has learned.
Sen. Jeff Klein plans to unveil his bill today to stiffen penalties for online bullying and stalking.
Gaga, who sings about acceptance of gays and lesbians, said via Twitter last week that she wants to discuss the growing problem with President Obama following the recent suicide of Jamey Rodemeyer.
The 14-year-old suburban Buffalo boy had complained in a Web video about being taunted online and bullied because he was gay.
BRIAN BRANCH PRICE
UNLIKELY DUET: Bronx state Sen. Jeff Klein is singing Lady Gaga’s tune, pushing to make “bullycide” a felony.
Klein, a Democrat, cited Jamey’s death and that of Rutgers freshman Tyler Clementi, 18, who jumped off the George Washington Bridge last year after two classmates taped him during a sexual encounter with another man and broadcast it on the Internet.
“Words can kill,” the lawmaker said.
He said his bill would expand second-degree manslaughter to include “bullycide,” or death by cyberbullying, when the perpetrator “intentionally or recklessly causes the victim of such offense to commit suicide.” It would be a Class C felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
Klein’s bill would also update third-degree stalking to include cyberbullying, defined as using electronic communications likely to cause fear of harm or emotional distress in someone under 21. That’s a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to a year.
In his video, Jamey identified Lady Gaga as his idol.
A report by the state Senate’s Independent Democratic Conference, led by Klein, cites National Crime Prevention Council statistics that show cyberbullying affects almost half of all US teens, causing low self-esteem, frustration, shock, depression and anxiety.
The IDC also references an Iowa State University study that last year found 54 percent of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender and allied youths are regular victims of cyberbullying.
Klein said the other IDC members -- Diane Savino (D-SI), David Carlucci (D-Rockland County) and David Valesky (D-Madison County) -- support the bill.
I am not sure how I feel about this; however, I am leaning towards cyberbullying to become a crime because it can be considered a form of harassment, especially if it happens repeatedly.