Implement Stricter Laws for Bullying, Harassment and Cyberbullying

We, the undersigned, call on Governor Brian Kemp to implement new and harsher laws when it comes to bullying and cyberbullying in cases involving children, as well as cases involving adults. The statistics listed above, are only a few in a long list that have been reported over the last few years. With bullying and cyber bullying at an all-time high, mental health at an all-time high and suicide on an all-time rise in both children and adults, there have got to be some new and harsher laws implemented. Losing a child to suicide, due to mental health reasons, due to bullying, is unacceptable. To what cost should a person, child or adult, have to pay for something to be done. Their life? Absolutely not! From the start of this Governor Kemp, I ask that you put yourself in the average everyday child's shoes. Imagine yourself, this day in age, ages 6 to 18, being picked on bullied and harassed every single day at school. Being called derogatory names, pushed and shoved. Being made fun of because of your weight, height, nationality, religious beliefs; the list goes on and on. A child not fully developed mentally. Imagine that being your daily life, with no real form of outlet or actions taken, all while still being expected to not only focus and learn but succeed. Better yet, Governor Kemp, imagine that being your very own child. Your niece or nephew, even, being bullied to the point of humiliation and suicidal thoughts over and over and over again. You implement laws for children who commit crimes and murder, but yet there are no real consequences for a child who verbally and psychically assaults, harasses and bullies another child, sometimes to the point of suicide. A child who bullies another child to the point of mental health issues or suicide and it's a slap on the wrist. Imagine, Governor Kemp, you have to bury your child, niece or nephew, or grandchild one day, due to excessive bullying because nothing was done about it. There needs to be better laws implemented that would cause real consequences for these bullies and justice for the victims. There needs to be consequences for schools that take no real action, if a student comes to them. There needs to be consequences for parents that take no real action if their child is bullying. School staff need to take this topic more seriously as well as law enforcement. One, is one child too many. Let's talk about the bullying and cyberbullying in the adult world. I ask again, put yourself in the shoes of the average adult. The adult with no high paid legal team, no statewide name or platform of voices to take a stand on their behalf. Adults not taken seriously because "as an adult we should know how to handle it, grow thicker skin or just ignore it." Are you aware, Governor, of what actually takes place across social media platforms for children and adults? Are you aware of the behaviors some of these "adults" have on social media? And yes, I do use that term loosely. See, Governor, adults and children can sit behind computer screens and get away with anything with no real repercussions. It's sad, it's sickening and its unreal. Currently, in today's social media world, there are children and adults who are having conflict with each other and instead of talking it out, they are completely destroying each other's mental health and real lives. Allow me to explain. Grown adults having conflict. They start verbally destroying each other. When that only makes it worse, they start taking things "real life", which in turn does in fact affect mental health. When they can't quite hit them where it hurts, so to speak, they start calling each other's employers, calling the cops, calling cps, doxing each other, calling each other's landlords and colleges...all because of some little conflict that they feel couldn't be resolved. Yes, that does say a lot about the adults, as individuals, in the world these days but there have got to be harsher consequences for falsely calling cops, cps, employers, schools, landlords and so on. Imagine that you being you, Governor, as an average person battling those things repeatedly. Adults have lost their jobs due to people falsely calling cps and cops. Adults, being asked to leave a college, due to other adults calling the school. There are people's lives, careers, potential careers and lives being lost, due to the behaviors of others and no real consequence. Look me in my eye and tell me to my face, Governor, that there isn't a problem. You may be unaware of all of this, but that doesn't surprise me. Adults and kids are not being taken seriously enough by teachers and law enforcement. Law enforcement is not reporting back to the higher ups. These problems are not making it up the chain to the ones who have a real say so in law making. Georgia has met their match though, in me. I will not remain silent. I will be a voice for the kids and adults alike. I will single handedly, if need be, make a change in this world when it comes to bullying, harassment and cyberbullying in both children and adults. I ask that you please read this petition, take some suggestions and allow real consequences for these very real behaviors. It's time for change. It's time for consequences. It's time for justice. Do what is right, Governor.