Children as young as five years-old may be designated as criminals if this California city has its way.
The City Council of Carson, California, a city of 93,000 people in Los Angeles County, will vote May 20th on a new law that would criminalize anyone from kindergarten to age 25 who terrorize, harass or threaten others with no legitimate purpose.
Carson Councilman Mike Gipson, a co-sponsor of the law, said he hopes the law will lead to Carson becoming a city completely free of bullying.
Carson voted 5-0 on Tuesday to advance the ordinance.
Gipson said: âWe are going to protect not only the kid that is bothered in school, but when you leave school and go home, weâre going to protect you as a city.â
Brendan Hamme, a staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, told Reuters that the ordinance is too vague and does not indicate out how much jail time an offender could potentially face.
Ross Ellis, founder of Stomp Out Bullying, a leading national anti-bullying group, told the news agency that the measure appears to go too far....