WPIX News: Girl's Suicide May Spur Passage Of Anti-Cyberbullying Law

JAMES FORD
PIX11.com / @jamesfordtv
4:45 p.m. EST, January 4, 2012

NEW DORP, STATEN ISLAND, NY (PIX11)— Amid the hundreds of loving, supportive comments on Amanda Cummings's Facebook page since she took her life last week, one stands out in all capital letters. It comes from the 30-year-old sister of the 15 year-old girl who threw herself in front of a bus on December 27th, a day after the girl had shown their mother a series of threatening text messages from girls at her high school. Amanda's sister, Dawn Weber, wrote, in part, "I AM BEGGING YOU KIDS, ANYONE WITH ANY CONCRETE PROOF OF BULLYING TOWARD MY SISTER, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. PLEASE. I NEED WITNESSES..."

The post was part of an attempt to have legal action taken in Amanda Cummings's possible cyberbullying death. Some legal recourse could take place against people whose electronic messages may have helped drive the high school sophomore to her fate, but that legal action would be based on current laws against harassment or bias, for example, and not based on the cyber-bullying itself. The reason for that is that bullying someone through electronic media isn't a crime. At least not yet.

"My statute will be the only one that will criminalize cyberbullying," New York state senator Jeffrey Klein (D-Bronx/Westchester) told PIX11 News in an interview from the state capitol building in Albany. On Wednesday, Klein officially introduced legislation that would make it criminal to bully anyone electronically.

"Potentially someone who commits the crime of cyberbullying could do up to a year in jail," Klein said regarding the terms of his legislation, and he mentioned Amanda Cummings's suicide specifically as part of the need to punish and to prevent cyberbullying.

"If people know they're going to be punished with a crime, even a misdemeanor, they don't commit the crime," Klein said.

He also pointed out that all statistics regarding cyber-bullying come from nationwide research, and that New York-specific information may further help get his anti-online bullying legislation passed. His office has launched this survey for New York teens and young adults to complete. 3,000 people have filled it out so far. Klein is optimistic that the survey will get 10,000 respondents before February 1st.
Copyright © 2011, WPIX-TV

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Senator Jeff Klein
• New York State Senate
• Amanda Cummings
• cyberbullying

[flippy55555]

Amanda Cummings: Tried to ride the bus, got tired.

[galorize12rt]

This has nothing to do with Children. You are not going to put a 15 year old in jail for a year. THINK! This bill is to silence Free Speech in New York and cyber bullying is coming to a state near you. Call Sen Klien 518-455-3595 or (718) 822-2049

[schwoogie78]

@theclutzful indeed.

[schwoogie78]

@theclutzful im rubber and your glue. whatever you say bounces off me and sticks to you..

[LarryFine6969]

@MeganLandryPixelDust Agreed, freedom of expression is a terrible thing to lose :(

[LarryFine6969]

First reaction: "oh wow, a poor girl was forced into suicide I wonder why..."

Second reaction: "I just watched a bunch of youtube videos that were from Staten Island, Christ these people are fucked up, now I'm not surprised"

/thread

[LarryFine6969]

@thegarbear05 Thankfully she didn't make an embarrassing public display like Amanda did.

[LarryFine6969]

@theclutzful Staten Island is hated by the other 4 boroughs for a good reason. It's filled with fucking weirdos.

[LarryFine6969]

I agree, children of all ages should be thrown in jail for saying mean stuff.

[thegarbear05]

@schwoogie78 did you ever see a movie called cyberbullying the law is passed in 30some states already