Bullying = The New Assault Law

Here on this date the undersigned hereby agree and encourage the following to be enacted immediately by all law enforcement agencies and states nationwide.

Bullying and cyber-bullying are an epidemic that has profound negative effects on tween's and teen's and even young adults. Today's kids endure relentless and abusive bullying that can result in injuries, hospital stays, death, suicide, and emotional trauma that can change the lives of teens and their families forever. Bullying often results in severe depression in those who are bullied.

Bullying comes in many forms, cyber, physical, emotional and sexual. Bullying effects all races and genders. Gay's and lesbian's also endure bullying and often suffer more because of who they are.

Recent media attention has brought forth the consequences of bullying esp. in schools.

To remedy this issue, help curb the violent consequences of bullying and to change how we can handle the bullying the undersigned, the petitioner "911teen.org", asked that the following law be created and enforced in all 50 state's.

Bullying and Cyber-Bullying should be classified as a misdemeanor offense of assualt in accordance to state law.

Assault is often defined to include not only violence, but any intentional physical contact with another person without their consent, assault may refer only to the threat of violence caused by an immediate show of force.

Currently, Simple assault can be distinguished without the intent of injury upon another person. The violation of one's personal space or touching in a way the victim deemed inappropriate can be simple assault. In common law states an assault is not committed by merely, for example, swearing at another; without threat of battery, there can be no assault.

Bullying needs to classified as assault not simple assault. Bullying doesn't start as criminal. They need to be held accountable the very first time they call somebody a gross term.

Sadly the final straw in bullying usually ends in suicide of the bullied party, or the bullied party returning to the school and tragically shooting anyone they can causing horrible tragedies upon the community.

Simply put, the undersigned below believes that enacting the law of bullying becoming a charge of assault and enforced strictly that it will have positive changes in schools and will decrease bullying significantly. As for cyber-bullying, the same applies if the bullied party can prove the bullying occurred online.
Currently according to a Federal computer hacking law, Fraud and related activity in connection with computers; ** TITLE 18 PART I CHAPTER 47 1030; ** "EXCERPT BELOW:
(A) if the offender knowingly or recklessly causes or attempts to cause serious bodily injury from conduct in violation of subsection (a)(5)(A)(i),
a fine under this title or imprisonment for not more than 20 years, or both; and
(B) if the offender knowingly or recklessly causes or attempts to cause death from conduct in violation of subsection (a)(5)(A)(i), a fine under
this title or imprisonment for any term of years or for life, or both."
This law was brought to attention after the 2006 suicide of Megan Meier's.

The recommended consequences of bullying should be for first offense, for juveniles under 15, at least no less then 21 days in juvenile hall followed by 1yr supervised probation, plus counseling and court fees. For any and all bullying related charges after it be left in the courts discretion as to the punishment and court fees.

The recommended consequences of bullying should be for first offense, for those 15 and older, being charged as an adult, at least no less then 31 days in county jail followed by 1yr supervised probation, plus counseling and court fees. For any and all bullying related charges after it be left in the courts discretion as to the punishment and court fees.

Ultimately it will be left to the courts decision as to how to punish those responsible for bullying and cyber-bullying. The above is just a recommendation by those undersigned below.

The undersigned agrees that this urgently needed law be passed immediately upon receipt of this petition and should not be delayed for no reason. This urgently needed law must be passed to protect our kids and schools. Safety and lives are most important and no teen should end their lives due to senseless bullying. It doesnt need to happen anymore, and the loss of 1 life is too many. Dont wait till a law maker's child dies due to bullying to realize this much needed law must be passed.
Bullying is assault, regardless of what is done or said.