Kentucky city looks towards making bullying a misdemeanor for children

LONDON, Ky. (FOX 56) — According to a state report, 18,000 bullying and harassment events were recorded last school year by Kentucky schools.

This is why London Mayor Randall Weddle said it’s time for local governments to step in.

“I wanted to bring it back up because of several reasons. One, the amount of parents that have reached out to me and even the kids that have reached out to my office talking about their experiences,” Mayor Weddle told FOX 56.

A similar ordinance was pushed in the past, but it did not get very far.

Next month, Weddle said he plans to bring it in front of the council again; the ordinance would make bullying a class-A misdemeanor for children under 19, including a fine if convicted.

“In talks with the city attorney, you know, this is something he said you guys can do,” Weddle said.

Punishment would be for in-person bullying and cyberbullying in school, online, and anywhere in the city.

“Bullying is something now that these kids cannot escape. It’s something through social media, no matter; it’s just not happening in school; it’s happening when they go home through these apps and stuff,” Weddle said.

He said the numbers speak for themselves and that countywide, seven teens have committed suicide within the last 3 years.

According to Weddle, teens who are bullied are 2.5 times more likely to attempt suicide compared to their peers.

“As a local government, let’s do our part and not just say, hey, let’s implement an ordinance that’s going to cause this to be a Class-A misdemeanor, but let’s partner and get involved in these kids lives, because one child taking their life due to bullying is one too many,” Weddle said.

The council will consider Weddle’s bullying ordinance at next month’s meeting on May 5.