On Monday, June 30, the state of Missouri had passed a new law in regards to cyberbullying. It was signed into law by Republican Governor Mark Blunt. Under this newly signed state law, cyberbullying is now illegal. In the past, it was illegal to harass people over the phone and/or by mail.
Now, it extends to cyberspace. This new law will cover harassment from text messages, e-mails, private online messages, and so forth from all sorts of electronic devices. This is result of a suicide incident back in October of 2006. At the age of 13-year-old Megan Meier, who had committed suicide as a result of cyberbullying. Meier had received various messages that were unpleasant at the most.
According to her mother, Tina Meier, this is only the beginning. She was there when Blunt had signed the bill into law. Tina Meier said that while her daughter was a victim of online harassment, there are others going through the same thing.
The circumstance of the suicide was the result of Megan Meier communicating with a boy named “Josh” on MySpace. However, it was revealed that Josh was not real. It was a fake profile.
At the beginning, Megan and “Josh” were on good terms. Then, it went on bad terms. Afterwards, Megan had committed suicide.
Even though Missouri has passed a new law that outlaws cyberbullying, it still happens anywhere and everywhere. But, the main point is that Missouri has taken action against cyberbullying.
It is a matter of time that other states will follow suit and take the same action.
Since Missouri is a battleground state for the 2008 United States Presidential election, maybe presumed Democratic nominee Senator Barack Obama of Illinois and presumed GOP nominee Senator John McCain of Arizona may address the issue.
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