Bad Libertarian Would Permit Verbal Abuse of School Children

Remember the days when libertarians stood for individual liberty?

The part of libertarianism I love is the part that protects and even celebrates freedom of expression and action, always with a protective eye toward anyone who might be subjected to oppression based on the conflicting ideas of another person.

Libertarianism has always included diverse philosophies and organizations, all of which advocate the goal of maximizing individual liberty and freedom.

But these days it's hard to tell the libertarians from the neo-cons.

A Republican state senator now wants to allow students to be verbally bullied in school so long as it is part of their tormenter's religious belief to do so. And he doesn't seem to mind if theyhave access to a gun when they do it.

So my "right" to oppress a weaker kid outweighs the right of that person to live in peace? Where's the liberty in that?

This from H-L, Photo by Pablo Alcala:

A bill that aims to better protect children from being bullied because of their sexual orientation, race or religion may not get another vote despite near unanimous approval from a House committee earlier this week.

Two Republican lawmakers have added three floor amendments to the bill, one of which would allow those with concealed weapons permits to carry guns at the state's public universities and trade schools and keep those guns in their cars. Two other
amendments would make clear that students who are stating their religious beliefs about gays and lesbians would not be punished for bullying.

"I'm favorably inclined toward the bill, but the amendments may cause it not to be considered," said House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg...

The sponsor of two of the amendments, Republican Rep. Mike Harmon of Danville, who is running for lieutenant governor under the Tea Party banner, told H-L, "This is a bill about bullying. It should not be about silencing someone's religious beliefs."

One of his amendments would clarify that a school's code of conduct "shall not prohibit any student from expressing their personal religious beliefs as long as that expression does not include physically harming a student or damaging a student's property."

So physical abuse is not OK, but psychological abuse is? Where's the liberty in that?

Rally for held for new anti-bullying bill that includes sexual orientation

This from WAVE 3 News:

People from all over Kentucky headed to Frankfort Feb. 23 in an effort to make kids safer. They say they are supporting fairness and celebrating a major victory against bullying.

Kentucky already has anti-bullying laws, but this one is aimed at protecting kids who are being harassed because of their sexual orientation.

The Fairness Campaign took its message to the Capitol, thanking 14 state legislators, all Democratic representatives, nine of whom are from Louisville, for being champions of fairness. The rally comes one day after House Bill 370 passed out of the Education Committee.

Meghan Lampe, now a sophomore at the University of Louisville, testified that she was harassed and called names when she went to Butler High School because she was gay. Lampe said that at the end of her freshman year, she tried to kill herself. Now she has dedicated her life to stop bullying.

"We need fairness to have everyone be equal. We need fairness to push our society forward and I know it will happen because history is on our side," said Lampe to the cheering crowd.

Rep. Mary Lou Marzian (D-District 34/Louisville) sponsored the bill that passed out of committee 21-1. When asked about the difference between this and the existing anti-bullying law, Marzian said this one is more specific which she hopes will make it easier to identify bullying and stop it.

This from H-L:

Panel OKs measure to ban bullying of gay students

Bullitt Central High School freshman Aye Jay Long, 14, told a panel of lawmakers on Tuesday that he was continually harassed by his classmates, who called him a "fag" after he told them he was gay earlier this school year.

"I was getting shoved and pushed into lockers," Long said.

He said he once received straight As but now is getting Cs, Ds, and Fs because of the harassment.

His and other students' testimony helped persuade the House Education Committee to approve a bill that would require Kentucky schools to enhance their bullying policies, prohibiting harassment based on sexual orientation, race or religion. The proposal now heads to the House floor for a possible vote...