Matt's Safe School Law

After many years of fighting, Matt Epling and his family have finally received the justice they deserve. Following the suicide of Matt Epling, his family has been pushing the state to pass an anti-bullying law, and finally they passed one this morning.

Matt Epling was an 8th grader from East Lansing at the time of his death. On his last day of school he was harassed and assaulted by upperclassmen from the high school. Nothing was done to the attackers and a few weeks later Matt committed suicide due to the torment and embarrassment he suffered.

Since then, Matt's parents have fought for a law preventing a situation like theirs from happening to any other family. Before the passing of the law, Michigan was one of three states that had not passed an anti-bullying law. The rest of the country already had.

Then earlier this year a bill was finally passed, but with much controversy. It banned bullying but with the exception of being able to bully if what the person was saying was based on moral or religious conviction. This made national headlines, and infuriated many. Mr. Epling was quoted saying, "I am ashamed that this could be Michigan's bill on bullying."

Senator Gretchen Whitmer also have a speech condemning the bill. Many saw it as condoning bullying rather than fighting against it.

The senate evnTually revised the bill, taking that specific clause out. The law now requires every school to have an anti-bullying policy and requires investigation upon incident.