Christine and Dave McComas of Howard County waited in line in the Maryland State House, a photo of their 15-year-old daughter Grace cradled in their arms.
They were in Annapolis to attend the ceremony where a bill named for their late daughter was being signed into law.
They stood in the packed Governor鈥檚 Reception Room when the bill was called. 鈥淕race鈥檚 Law 2.0, Senate Bill 103, House Bill 181!鈥� And with that announcement, the bills were signed into law.
The new law makes cyberbullying that targets a minor a serious offense. Maryland state Sen. Bobby Zirkin explained that a previous version of the bill left open too many loopholes.
Under the previous legislation, penalties would kick in only if the intended victim was the direct recipient of a cyberattack.
Under the new legislation sending out harassing messages to anyone, or a broad audience, would qualify as an offense. The intended victim wouldn鈥檛 have to receive the message.
And if the cyberbullying escalates, jail time could result.
鈥淭his craziness you see, where people are trying to coax children to commit suicide 鈥� you throw that into the mix, and it鈥檚 a 10-year sentence now under this law.鈥�
Christine McComas said that the messages her daughter received were relentless, and the 15-year-old Howard County girl took her own life in 2012.
鈥淎dults couldn鈥檛 stand it,鈥� she said of the type of messages with which her daughter was barraged, 鈥淏ut children, when they鈥檙e just figuring out who they are 鈥� 鈥� she said, her voice trailing off.
There were opponents of the bill: The ACLU of Maryland argued the constitutionality of the bill. And, there were concerns about young people who don鈥檛 understand the impact that cyber attacks can have on a person鈥檚 well-being, and how they should not be penalized so seriously.
Zirkin said that he鈥檚 confident that the bill can stand up to legal challenge, and he recalled what struck him about the McComas鈥� testimony.
鈥淭hey went to the police; they went to the school; they went to the courts. And, they actually went to the perpetrator鈥檚 family. And they got turned away at every point.鈥�
Christine McComas said she wants to deter cyberbullying, but she also wants to educate everyone 鈥� adults and children 鈥� on the impact of words that are transmitted in cyberspace can carry.
鈥淚t matters how you act in public life. It matters what you say to people.鈥�
And, she said she wants everyone to think about how they behave. She鈥檇 like to take the negative force of the internet and turn it into a positive.
McComas said, 鈥淚f you take her name; G-R-A-C-E, it could stand for Give Respect And Compassion to Everyone.鈥�
海角社区app’s Kate Ryan reported from Annapolis, Maryland.
