Category: Turn Off the Violence
Putting an end to human trafficking is a big priority for all of us. Let us support Senator Amanda McGill's effort to do just that with her bill LB 255. Contact your senator today and ask them to please support LB 255 on Human Trafficking. To find YOUR Senator's contact information, click HERE.
Important provisions contained in the bill include:
Section 1:
Adds trafficking to the definition of child abuse by stating, “ A person commits child abuse if he or she knowingly, intentionally, or negligently causes or permits a minor child to be…Placed in a situation to be a trafficking victim as defined in section 28-830.”
Read morePosted In: Turn Off the Violence
This past Wednesday, January 16, President Obama unveiled his legislative plan to curb gun violence. Drafted in the wake of the Newtown massacre, it is the most ambitious gun control initiative to come out of the White House in decades.
The president has sworn to personally take 23 executive actions to halt the gun culture epidemic that is afflicting our country. But the real substance of his proposed agenda will require congressional approval.
Specifically, under President Obama’s legislative initiative, Congress is being asked to act on several key components, ranging from stricter laws and heightened enforcement to increased education and prevention:
Read morePosted In: Turn Off the Violence
By Paul A. Olson
Nebraskans for Peace has long endeavored to stem local violence and violence against and among youth. In the 1990s, we worked on teaching students mediation and problem-solving. We continued that thrust into the early 2000s as we endeavored to get schools to offer mediation training to kids and lobbied the Nebraska Department of Education to encourage the same effort. We labored the longest and hardest on anti-bullying policy—first with the Nebraska Board of Education and then, in 2008, with the Legislature, when we succeeded in getting a bill. Last year, we, with others, succeeded in including an anti-bullying policy in the accreditation policies for local schools put out by the Nebraska Department of Education. We have testified consistently against the extension of concealed carry and were greeted with sublime indifference by the Unicameral. In earlier times, we endeavored to stop the authorization of military-style weapons for street carry. Our “Turn Off the Violence” committee is constantly looking for ways to create new interventions to reduce our faith in violence at home.
Except in the bullying efforts, we have largely failed.
Read morePosted In: Turn Off the Violence
The following article appeared in the Monday, April 2, 2012 edition of the Lincoln Journal Star. April 20, 2012 has been designated 'Nebraska Stand for The Silent Day' to recognize the victims of bullying who often endure the torment in silence. This is the day that the countless victims and bystanders are rising up to take a stand against bullying.
Please take a moment to read the article, forward it to the school that your child, grandchild, niece or nephew goes to and ask them to participate in this very important event.
People interested in receiving balloons and taking part in Nebraska Stand for The Silent Day can go to www.serve.nebraska.gov and click on the Stand for the Silent tag.
Read morePosted In: Turn Off the Violence
by Kerry Beldin, Associate Professor at the School of Social Work at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, and NFP board member
This past holiday season, the family of Ben Lewis had to celebrate without him. In November, the 15-year old Lincoln East sophomore took his own life at his grandmother’s home. According to the family, Ben’s suicide was yet another tragic end to ongoing victimization and bullying by peers. Stories such as this have become sadly commonplace as the topic of bullying has garnered increasing attention both at the national and local level.
According to KLKN TV Channel 8 in Lincoln, Ben’s history and profile are not surprising. Diagnosed with Asperger’s Disorder, a condition that can make academic environments challenging and social interactions difficult, Ben had left an Omaha school to avoid the bullying he had experience there. Following his death, his family states they wished he would have spoken out, wish he would have told others he was experiencing bullying. Ben’s uncle, Jeremy Bibelheimer is quoted by the news channel as saying, “Schools advocate 'We have a zero-tolerance policy against bullying' and what exactly does that mean? Yes, you have a zero-tolerance policy but what does that mean? What are the resources? What's that you know?"
Read morePosted In: Turn Off the Violence
