LOS ANGELES — The city council in Carson, California, will vote Tuesday on a tough new plan to outlaw bullying. “We have to draw a line in the sand and say enough is enough and bullying is no longer accepted in this city,” says city council member Mike Gipson, the author of a proposed anti-bullying ordinance.It would fine someone who bullies another person between the ages of 5 and 25, making them feel “terrorized, frightened, intimidated, threatened, harassed or molested” with no legitimate purpose. “Small bullies grow up to be big bullies, and big bullies sometimes grow up to be husbands, wives, co-workers, parents, and neighbors.” A first-time bullying offense is a $100 fine, a second is $200, and a third could bring a criminal misdemeanor charge. What is less clear is how the city plans to enforce the law, especially if there is no witness to the bullying.
