"Anti-bully legislation sparks controversy"

Some more information about that bill that was created in Michigan that included a "protection of free speech" that in all actuality would give bullies a legal license to bully.

IRON MOUNTAIN -- Michigan is just one of three states in the nation without an anti-bullying law, however, recent efforts to create a law has created controversy.

Some Michigan lawmakers have been the subject of national criticism following the Senate passing of anti-bullying legislation earlier this month. Opponents say it's a 'pro-bullying' bill, giving students a license to bully.

Matt Oslund is 17 years old. He's been openly gay since his freshman year at Iron Mountain High School, and he says that's been a challenge.

"I've gotten death threats in my locker, text messages, prank phone calls," said Oslund.

He says the bullying got so bad, his grades suffered. After completing his junior year at Iron Mountain, he made the decision to leave the school system and pursue his GED.

"For me, it was just so unbearable, the threats and everything," Oslund said.

Iron Mountain High School says they do have regulations and reporting procedures in place, but bullying will continue to be a problem.

"Can we prevent it? Never 100 percent," says Iron Mountain Public School Superintendent Tom Jayne, "because kids are kids, and we can't be everywhere at every time."

Superintendent Jayne was not at the school at the time of the alleged incidents and was not able to comment on Matt's story.

Matt says he's much more comfortable in his academics now, but something he saw in the news raised his concerns for other students who are bullied.

The Michigan Senate passed anti-bullying legislation with a provision stating policies against bullying could not prohibit "a statement of a sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction of a school employee, school volunteer, pupil, or a pupil's parent or guardian."

Sponsors say the bill was created to protect freedom of speech. Others say it's pro-bullying legislation.

"Under this bill, you could justify tormenting a child who's overweight, has divorced parents, bi-racial or wears a Yakima or even a cross, for that matter," says Democratic Michigan Senator Gretchen Witmer. "This is not the message to be sending to our students."

Witmer is part of a movement to stop the bill; so far it's been successful. The anti-bullying bill that passed in the House of Representatives did not include the exemption. The new bill, without the exemption, will now go back to the Senate.

U.P. Republican Senator Tom Casperson voted in support of the initial anti-bullying bill with the provision. He could not be reached for comment.

Source: http://www.uppermichiganssource.com/news/story.aspx?list=~%5Chome%5Clists%5Csearch&id=691387#.TtZofWMk67s