Michigan passes pro-bullying law

[Taskmage]

Michigan GOP Pass Bullying Bill Giving ‘License To Bully’ | The New Civil Rights Movement

Michigan Senate Republicans have passed a bullying bill — not an anti-​bullying bill — that actually gives license to bully. In an Orwellian twist, the bill, which passed 26 – 11, with zero Democratic votes, allows kids to be bullied by anyone: teachers, fellow students, school employees, volunteers and parents, if they can provide a so-​called religious or moral reason for their actions, giving the phrase, “the devil made me do it” sufficient validity.

The bill itself amounts to a white collar hate crime against all victims of anti-​gay bullying motivated suicide, as it’s named for a Michigan teen who died by suicide as a result of anti-​gay bullying. As one lawmaker, Michigan State Senator Gretchen Whitmer said in an impassioned speech (video below), “the saddest and sickest irony of this whole thing is that it’s called ‘Matt’s Safe School Law’. And after the way that you’ve gutted it, it wouldn’t have done a damn thing to save Matt!”

[Kailea]

Re: Michigan passes pro-bullying law

wow....thats sad on so many levels -.-

[Malacite]

Re: Michigan passes pro-bullying law

[Taskmage]

Re: Michigan passes pro-bullying law

Even the nazi is incredulous.

[Icemage]

Re: Michigan passes pro-bullying law

Just... wow. I'm usually pretty cynical about politicians in general, but this goes beyond petty corruption into the realm of outright incompetence.


Icematge

[Raydeus]

Re: Michigan passes pro-bullying law

Stupid laws pass all the time. The real question is: What will people do about it?

If they just bend over then you know what happens next.

[Ketaru]

Re: Michigan passes pro-bullying law

A fine way to end the night. Ironically, the folks behind such laws don't actually ask themselves questions like "What would Jesus do?" If he was as cool a guy as his followers would lead you believe, I am fairly certain he would've stood up for the ones who have been made to feel unsafe going to school.

EDIT:

The thing that gets me is that conservatives are afraid that if measures like this are passed, it will somehow undermine freedom of religion, when it simply calls for respect of your fellow human being. Such speculation is just that- speculation. Things like this, however, are actually happening.

UTSA student says she was a victim of a hate crime


This weekend at Sunday school:
Wedgies for Worshippers
Name Calling in the Name of the Lord
and every wholesome child's favorite, Brutalizing Bigotry 101.

[Gobo]

Re: Michigan passes pro-bullying law




(Server crash ate post, so reposting my opinion)

[cidbahamut]

Re: Michigan passes pro-bullying law

That's utterly despicable.

[Squiggs]

Re: Michigan passes pro-bullying law

I'm at a loss to describe how frustrated that makes me.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: Michigan passes pro-bullying law

Is there a link to the actual legislation in question? The idea of the law seems stupid but the source doesn't seem without its own extreme bias either.

That said how would an anti-bullying law even function without infrInging on free speech in some way? Most of the bullying today can carry to twitter and Facebook and the teens that feet hurt there only feel that way because it's a big component of how kids socialize now.

The danger lies in determining the phrasing be it pro or con. If this law is as the site portrays it, I don't think it would make it past any federal judge and the Supreme Court would tear it to pieces, but I don't think an anti-bullying law would live long either.

There's no magic formula to stopping kids from being horrible to each other.

[Taskmage]

Re: Michigan passes pro-bullying law

Michigan Legislature - House Bill 4580 (2009)

[Aeni]

Re: Michigan passes pro-bullying law

That said how would an anti-bullying law even function without infrInging on free speech in some way?

Hate Crime is not covered by the 1st Amendment. This also includes threats of violence and intimidation. These are things that the police can (and should) intervene in. That said, if this report is true, then the State of Michigan is in grave danger of losing all Federal funding where it concerns education, because it will go against many rules already in place, at the elementary all the way through to the collegiate levels (rules that are attached to these funding)

[Malacite]

Re: Michigan passes pro-bullying law

Did you guys hear about the proposed law in Kansas as well?

They're trying to DECRIMINALIZE domestic violence, because there's just too many cases for the police & courts to handle.

Yeah, there's a great solution right there.

orz

[Ketaru]

Re: Michigan passes pro-bullying law

Did you guys hear about the proposed law in Kansas as well?

They're trying to DECRIMINALIZE domestic violence, because there's just too many cases for the police & courts to handle.

Yeah, there's a great solution right there.

orz

I haven't heard of that one, though I don't know how that kind of reasoning would fly. I do know one of my more conservative coworkers believes that it is not possible for a wife to be raped by her husband though.