Bullying Legislation

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By Sarah Gravlee

Story Published: Jul 21, 2009 at 6:47 PM MST

Story Updated: Jul 21, 2009 at 6:47 PM MST

BILLINGS - John Halligan has many titles. He's an engineer, a public speaker, and a political activist, but he prefers to be known as "Ryan's dad."

"My son, Ryan, was a typical 13-year-old boy in middle school," Halligan said. "He was very sweet and I think those traits made him an easy target for bullying."

Students spread rumors about his personal life and were physically abusive. His father said the last straw came when a girl pretended to like him online over the summer only to let him down very publicly when school started. "Shortly after that," Halligan said, "He slipped into a deep depression and died by suicide."

After his son took his life, John set out to do something. "Shortly after Ryan's death I got a bullying prevention law in place," He said.

The law defines bullying and requires schools to have discipline plans in place for bullies. Similar laws are in place in 39 states, but none in Montana. Both the Governor and the State Attorney General spoke at the two-day conference saying they'd like to see bullying legislation passed in the treasure state.

"I don't think there's many parents who haven't been affected by bullying," Gov. Schweitzer said. "Our heart goes out to them but the law ought to protect them as well."

Whether there's legislation in place or not, Halligan said it's up to every person to stop bullying when they see it.

"You have a responsibility to stand up against this stuff," he said. "You have an option to save a life." Halligan said he doesn't want to see bullies prosecuted. Instead, he wants to identify bullies at an early age so they can be reformed and schoolyard bulling doesn't turn into a more serious crime down the road.

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