Kirk co-sponsors Dem's cyberbullying bill

Resulting from the tragic situation in Missouri, where a 13 year old girl committed suicide over things being written about her on a social network, "cyberbullying" will be added to federal statutes defined in U.S. Rep. Loretta Sanchez' HR 1966 as

(a) Whoever transmits in interstate or foreign commerce any communication, with the intent to coerce, intimidate, harass, or cause substantial emotional distress to a person, using electronic means to support severe, repeated, and hostile behavior, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both.

(b) As used in this section--

`(1) the term `communication' means the electronic transmission, between or among points specified by the user, of information of the user's choosing, without change in the form or content of the information as sent and received; and

`(2) the term `electronic means' means any equipment dependent on electrical power to access an information service, including email, instant messaging, blogs, websites, telephones, and text messages.'.

U.S. Congressman Mark Kirk (IL-10) is the only Republican added on as an HR 1966 co-sponsor to monitor and punish cyberbullying.  Added to his lead sponsorship of the Hate Crimes legislation monitoring Americans' thoughts, who can help but wonder why Kirk continues to identify himself as a Republican when he's so against individual rights, limited government, free markets and traditional family values? 

Warner Todd Huston has a few things to say about how this bill could be misused and actually shut down political criticism of any kind on electronically communicated.  First Amendment out the door ...

This weekend, he's working out difference with IL GOP State Party Chairman Andy McKenna, who let it be known this week he's very interested in running for the 2010 Republican nomination for U.S. Senator.  Magazine publisher Dr. Eric Wallace and Rockford businessman Robert Zadek have also declared their intention to fun for the U.S. Senate spot.

Comments

[Anon]

More from Kirk.

[Dave]

Sounds like good bill. A lot kids in school now use internet in a very cruel and harassing manner

I think although its very difficult to enforce

[Jim Caldwell]

his mentor must be Arlen Spector.

[Sam Pierce]

Seems like a great bill for Kirk, shades of McCain-Feingold, which sounded noble and was overflowing with adverse consequences (intended or not.)

Campaign e-mails sent on behalf of conservative candidates, will they be considered cyber-bullying?

[Janek Ignace]

Kirk is our very own Dennis Kucinich. Moreover, if he slipped from the 10th to the 9th Congressional District, no one would ever notice. Hate crimes legislation are the first step in the road to tyranny.

[Dave]

If a child is being harassed online and it leads to a disruption of their education process then the long term implications can very difficult to overcome and should not be tolerated.

[Tax and Spend]

He forgot to cosponsor HR 1207 Audit the Fed,
which is at least as important.

[Paul Mitchell]

I'm not at all sure that my campaign website at http://www.paulfor62.com wouldn't run afoul of this bill.

[elginite]

Does Mark Kirk have to be on the wrong side of every issue? Anyway, let them pass it, because it will be struck down by the Supreme Court anyway.

[Sam Pierce]

Isn't that what Bush thought about McCain-Feingold? The Supreme Court is not exactly a reliable guardian of The Constitution.

[Michael_Burns]

Congressman Kirk, you short-sighted FOOL. This is the perfect bill for trial lawyers and feminists (especially) who are looking for new ways to cultivate more litigation and bring more conflict and strife from inter-personal relationships, not to mention the enhancement of a police state which will make free speech, including posting comments like this, subject to criminal prosecution.

"Cyber-bullying"? What a farce.

Congressman Kirk: PLEASE RESIGN.

[Michael_Burns]

"Whoever transmits in interstate or foreign commerce any communication, with the intent to coerce, intimidate, harass, or cause substantial emotional distress to a person, using electronic means to support severe, repeated, and hostile behavior, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both."

I think news outlets like CNN and MSNBC cause emotional distress. Does that mean I can press charges against Wolf Blitzer and Keith Olbermann for reporting on issues that I find distressing and intimidating? What about a speech or an e-mail promotion that Representative Kirk makes that does the same?

The possibilities to a bill like this becoming law are ENDLESS.