An Alamo Heights man who lost his little brother to suicide due to cyber bullying told hundreds of students at the Texas Capitol in Austin today that the state needs 'David's Law' to give schools and police departments the opportunity to unmask anonymous cyber bullies, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
David Molak, 16, killed himself after enduring an on line social media bullying campaign. Cliff Molak says what David went through is nothing unusual to today's kids.
"During my speech I asked them to raise their hands if they had never been a witness to cyber bullying, and none of them raised their hand," he said.
Later, the Molaks said some people did raise their hands.
David's Law, which is being sponsored by State Sen. Jose Menendez (D-San Antonio) and State Rep. Ina Minjares (D-San Antonio) would give school districts and police departments increased authority to crack down on cyber bullies. They could be expelled from school, they could be prosecuted for assault and harassment, and, perhaps most seriously for their parents, they cyber bullies could be sued in civil court for money damages.
David's Law would also require school districts to come up with a written plan to help victims of cyber bullying, to train faculty and staff how to recognize it, and to pursue it and crack down on bullies.
Molak says it's tough for people over thirty or so to 'get' how horrible cyber bullying can be for today's teenagers.
"Their social interactions are much different from they way ours were," he said. "Most of their social interactions are on line, and much of it is anonymous."
He says David's Law is getting bipartisan support in the Legislature and he hopes it will be approved this year.
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