Suzy’s Law Update

It’s time for an update on the status of Suzy’s Law.  We are making progress in gaining support across the country.  Mary has been working extremely hard on her social networking project through Twitter and Facebook.  As of today we have 3146 followers on Twitter and 187 friends on Facebook.  You can find us on these two networks under “suzyslaw”.  I have to say that we are receiving many, many, comments of support and have had a lot of supporters contact their Congressional Representative, urging them to support and co-sponsor HR 853.  This is the kind of support that we need to convince our law makers to pay attention to what we have to say and pass Suzy’s Law!  If everyone that supports us passes our message to just 2 of their friends, and those friends each passes the info to 2 of their friends, just imagine the number of supporters we will have and imagine how much attention we would receive from the House of Representatives.  It is true that the voices of the people will dictate that actions of the politicians so make you voice heard!  Support Suzy’s Law, contact your Congressional Representative, and ask them support HR 853 by becoming a co-sponsor. 

Suzy’s Law supports and is supported by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP).  Part of our support is that we attend the AFSP “Out of the Darkness” Community Walks.  This is a great way to support suicide prevention/awareness by attending one of these walks and joining others in this common goal.  We are going to personally attend 8 of these walks starting with Santa Barbara on Sept. 12 and ending with Riverside on Nov. 7.  Please feel free to join us at these walks and meet with us to discuss Suzy’s Law. We will have the honor of speaking at these walks about what happened to our daughter and what we trying to accomplish with HR 853.  This is our way of helping to prevent what happened to us from happening to others.  By making others aware of the dangers these predators pose - the less effective they are in making others their victims.

 Here is a complete list of walks that are scheduled here in California.

You can find more information at the AFSP.org website.

Hope to see you at these wonderful walks.  Please join our team, “Team Suzy’s Law”.  You can find out how to join our team at the AFSP.org site also or you can just send us a message and we will do the rest.

One last thing, I found this quote in the Jefferson Memorial in Washington DC.  Written by Thomas Jefferson in 1816 in a letter to Samuel Kercheval,  I find its meaning even more relevant today as our laws struggle to keep pace with the technology of today.  Read it and see what you think.

“I am certainly not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and 

constitutions. But laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the 

progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more 

enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and 

manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, 

institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times………”

http://www.redding.com/news/2009/may/04/red-bluff-girls-suicide-prompts-proposed-new-law/

Red Bluff woman’s suicide prompts proposed new law

By Janet O’Neill
Monday, May 4, 2009

Suzanne Gonzales Suicide Prevention Act of 2009

Suzanne Gonzales Suicide Prevention Act of 2009

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Suzy Gonzales

RED BLUFF - Federal legislation crafted in response to a 19-year-old woman’s suicide after she got instructions on the Internet has her parents hoping it will spur discussion of an often taboo topic at the very least.

“I would be more than happy, overjoyed if this bill was passed into law and that it was never used, (because) it was a deterrent,” said Mike Gonzales, whose daughter’s death is behind House Resolution 853 - also known as the Suzanne Gonzales Suicide Prevention Act of 2009. U.S. Rep. Wally Herger, R-Chico, introduced the bill Feb. 9 after a previous version failed in committee.

Promoted as an Internet bill, it imposes criminal penalties for using interstate commerce to teach specific individuals how to kill themselves.

Suzy Gonzales, described as an energetic, witty and accomplished student, won a full-ride scholarship to Florida State University in Tallahassee. But after she moved from Red Bluff and, unbeknown to her family, began suffering from depression, she turned to online suicide groups.

“They kind of electronically put their arm around the person’s shoulder and say, ‘There, there, we know what you’re going through,’ ” said Mary Gonzales, Suzy’s 56-year-old mother. After brewing a lethal cocktail of potassium cyanide and tap water, her daughter died March 23, 2003, in a Tallahassee motel room.

The Gonzaleses, who say they’ve identified the person responsible, became frustrated when Florida police and lawyers told them they had no recourse but a civil lawsuit, something they couldn’t afford.

In the course of their campaign for HR 853, Mike Gonzales says he’s heard concerns the law would limit free speech, an allegation both he and Herger reject.

“This is the most common misperception,” said Gonzales, 46, a retired firefighter. Once he explains the law applies only to people who directly target individuals they know plan to kill themselves, the critics understand, he said.

“It’s very narrowly tailored to pass constitutional muster,” said Darin Thacker, Herger’s legislative director in Washington, D.C.

And while the bill sounds no free-speech alarms for the executive director of the San Rafael-based California First Amendment Coalition, he sees other flaws.

“I don’t think this really adds anything to make it a crime to assist somebody to commit suicide,” said Peter Scheer, a lawyer and journalist. State laws already address assisted suicide, Scheer said, and Herger’s bill would not trump those statutes.

“It’s not any more of an Internet bill than most of the millions of federal statutes that are predicated on use of interstate commerce,” Scheer added, noting that communication by text-messaging, telephone, e-mail, letters and other means also is covered.

“This law looks like it was written in 1969,” Scheer said. “There’s absolutely nothing in there that would date it after the invention of the personal computer.”

Calling the law “superfluous,” he said it’s unlikely to pass.

Thacker acknowledged the state laws already on the books, but he said when it comes to people delivering suicide instruction on the Internet, the process frequently crosses state lines.

“Because of that, a federal statute, we believe, is appropriate,” Thacker said.

A person convicted under the bill faces a fine or imprisonment up to five years, and if someone dies as a result, a sentence of life in prison could result.

Meanwhile, the Gonzaleses are forging ahead, and Herger’s public appearance in Red Bluff last month to promote the proposed law buoyed their crusade.

“We thought it went really, really well,” Mary Gonzales said. “Plus it gave us more to talk about on the Web site (www.suzyslaw.com) so people aren’t always reading the same thing. Something new brings it to people’s minds again.”

The challenge now, says her husband, is to spread the word and get more legislators on board to sponsor it. That the bill, now in the House Judiciary Committee, isn’t perfect is of little concern to him.

“If it gets into a serious committee hearing, they can rewrite it to where it is more friendly, palatable to other representatives,” Mike Gonzales said.

And he feels he’s made progress by making people aware that the kind of tragic end met by his daughter is still a danger to others, especially when suicide is not always openly discussed.

“That’s a victory for my part that people start debating it,” he said. “We can’t stop suicide altogether but we could put notice on the predators on the Internet who prey on the vulnerable that they can and will be held accountable.”

The Gonzaleses also are grateful for Herger’s persistence.

“We are so deeply indebted to Congressman Herger for taking up this issue for us,” Mike Gonzales said. “He’s committed to it. To me, that tells real integrity of the person.”

Reporter Janet O’Neill can be reached at 225-8216 or at joneill@redding.com.

We can now be found on Facebook and Twitter under “suzyslaw”.  Join us and help make a difference.

We had an extremely successful press conference with Congressman Wally Herger today, at the new Tehama County Administration Building in the impressive Supervisors Chambers.  We were able to have our information table set-up with informational brochures, business cards, volunteer contact cards, and contact information for the 54 US Representatives from California.  We are trying something new; a post card with postage and a note supporting Suzy’s Law.  The only thing a person needs to do is fill in their name, address, city, and zip and mail it to their Representative.

The front of the room had tripods with an information board and a photo biography of Suzy, and a large banner was displayed behind the speakers.

About 30 friends and family were in attendance as were local television and newspaper reporters.

Congressman Herger started the meeting promptly at 10am with an introduction of HR 853, the history behind it, and the circumstances leading to Suzy’s death.  He was very passionate when speaking of the need of HR 853 to hold the “sick and twisted predators” accountable for their actions.

Congressman Herger then introduced me and I gave a little more in-depth description of Suzy, what happened to her, the predators of the pro-suicide internet sites, and why we think this bill does not infringe on our freedom of speech rights.

I then introduced our guest speaker, Liseanne Wick, President of the Sacramento chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and the Coordinator for the 24hr Parent Support Line and the Suicide Prevention Crisis Line, both programs of the Effort(www.theeffort.org).  She spoke of the warning signs of depression, suicidal behavior, and her support for HR853.  Liseanne has forwarded information about Suzy’s Law to her network of crisis line directors across the country.  She will be attending a big mental health professional function in San Francisco next week where she intends on sharing our cause with the members at large.

Congressman Herger and I then took turns adding to the information already presented specifically addressing the First Amendment and the dangers of anonymous internet serial predators.  We then answered questions that were raised.  After that Congressman Herger and I did short TV interviews shown on the local news this evening.

Shortly after we left I was contacted and interviewed by the American Family News Network via phone, to be broadcast on their national radio show.  That was an unexpected bonus to the day.

To quote a brilliant man (Congressman Herger), “It takes an act of Congress to make a change”, we are gaining ground and we will make it!!!  Take care and I will keep you updated as progress is made…………Mike

                 WELCOME BACK

HR 940 is now HR 853

Thank you for being patient during this time of change at Suzy’s Law.  We have had our share of technical and other problems with our site but we are finally catching up.  As you see above HR 940 will now be known as HR 853.  It is still the “Suzanne Gonzales Suicide Prevent Act” but with the new congressional session came the need for the bill to be reintroduced into congress and a new HR number.  We will have two years to build support, gather co-sponsors and make enough of an impact to have this bill passed.  Let me update what has been going on since our last post:

The “Suzanne Gonzales Suicide Prevention Act” was formally introduced to the House of Representatives on February 4, 2009 by Congressman Wally Herger (R-CA2).  The bill has 5 co-sponsors and they are Rep. Jeffrey Fortenberry [R-NE], Del. Madeleine Bordallo [D-GU], Rep. Jim Matheson [D-UT], Rep. Marcy Kaptur [D-OH], and  Rep. Sue Myrick [R-NC].  We greatly appreciate these congressional members for supporting our bill and leading the way for others to join in.  This is just the start and we will need many more co-sponsors to get this bill moving out of committee.  HR 853 is presently in the House Committee on the Judiciary where it will be studied.

On March 3^rd 2009 Suzy’s Law was invited to speak at a event at California State University – Sacramento.  This event was sponsored by the Ailing Mothers and Fathers chapter at Sac. State.  Here is a link to their chapter, www.studentsofamf.org/-_California_State_University_-_Sacramento  .  Mary and I spoke at this event and we were impressed by this group of young people who organized it.  Also a representative of the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention and the Suicide Prevention Crisis Line spoke about depression and suicide.  There were approximately 30-40 people in attendance.  We considered the event a success and we want to thank the Sac. State chapter of AMF for inviting us and all their hard work for this event.

On April 6^th 2009, at 10:00am, Congressman Herger will be holding a press conference at Tehama County Administration Building here in Red Bluff to introduce HR 853 to the media and public.  Anyone who is interested in hearing about the bill and why it is needed is invited to attend.  The more that is known about what happened to Suzy and others like her, their preventable deaths, and the predators that caused their deaths will help move HR 853 through Congress.

Mary and I invite any people who are interested in helping us get  HR 853 passed to contact us.  The more we speak and raise awareness about what happened to Suzy the more we find out this has happened to many, many others.  This has to change, and we feel that HR 853 is the start for this change.

Thank you all for visiting this site and for your support.  Keep reading here for updates and keep spreading the word about what we are doing.  It will take an act of congress to get things changed and we the citizens of this great country must demand this change.  Keep calling, writing, emailing your congressional Representative and have them support HR 853.

Thank you for visiting this site. We are continuing our efforts to get H.R. 940 passed in the House of Representatives and are making progress.

In an effort to spread the word out to everyone we have started another site, www.suzyslaw.com . Please visit this site also. It goes more into detail on what we are doing and how you can help. The new site has some interesting articles written by a very talented writer in Washington DC. You will find them interesting to read. Thank you again for your support.

Welcome to The Blog! This is where Suzy’s parents will be posting comments and updates for all of you to read. Please check back soon.