Dealing with the bad guys

Texas House Rep. Richard Raymond, D-Laredo, of the 42nd District, has a good idea in dealing with bullies, which he hopes will go through Austin's lawmakers for a governor's signature and become law.

It used to be, we had to learn the hard way as kids to find the courage to stand up to bullies, organize coalitions to impress upon the bully that we've had enough and we're not going to take it any more, or just jump the idiot from all sides if all else fails. But lessons learned in school shootings across this country and a few others say not all children and teens can do what is necessary to halt the bullying. Some can't take it, something snaps and they bring a gun to school and people start getting killed.

Raymond's intended legislation seeks to give the schools the power to act in these situations and move the bully toward a safer disposition.

By MIKE McILVAIN

State Rep. Richard Raymond, D-Laredo, wants to see schools have the tools to push bullies off the property.
Raymond says he will introduce legislation in the coming session, which would hand decisions on consistently troublesome, problem bullies to justices of the peace. The JPs would then determine if the student in question should be sent to detention facilities.
Raymond doesn’t believe children victimized by bullies should have to form coalitions of friends to confront the bully, or test their fortitude by standing up to them eye-to-eye by themselves.
“Parents can move a child out if they are being harassed, but they should move out the bully,” he said.
Raymond noted the bullying element in numerous school violence cases across the country, which includes Columbine and other school shootings.
Raymond and JPs attending his news conference on the issue discussed statewide school rules, which punish both students in a fight. It takes one to start a fight, but two to have one. The proposed law seeks to separate the fight starter from the answerer.
“We have parents who say my child is afraid to go to school in the morning,” Raymond said. “We have a priority for safe schools.”
“If they break the law and are in court and charged accordingly, it will mean a lot,” parent Rene Cervantes said, attending the news conference.
Precinct 4 JP Oscar Martinez says are harassed to the point where anyone would be forced to fight, but bullies are sometimes gang members and need to be made to understand that there is help for them, too. Martinez sees this potential law putting the bully in conversation with JPs who could help steer the aggressive child, or teen, away from trouble.