A local family is pushing to get a law passed in Michigan that would protect students from bullying at school.
Michigan is one of five states that doesn't have one.
Gabrielle Ford, from Fenton, travels the country talking to students about how she was bullied for having a debilitating condition.
She shares the pains of being rejected and made fun of.
Now, she and her family are spear-heading a campaign to get a law passed to make schools accountable for bullying.
Gabe's mother Rhonda Hillman says, "Right now, there are policies in schools, but policies do not have to be enforced, but a law would have to be enforced."
Gabe met with Governor Granholm and senators last week pushing for a state law.
Gabe says, "When I was back in school, there was bullying going on, but today it's just gotten worse."
Several students have killed themselves because of being bullied. Matt Epling was one of them.
The East Lansing student was hazed after his 8th grade year. His dad, Kevin Epling is passionate about protecting others.
"It's been said that bullying is the most common form of violence in our schools today, yet it is the most overlooked and the most preventable," Epling says in an online video.
What's known as "Matt's Safe School Law" passed the Michigan House in 2007. However, it's been held up in the Senate Education Committee.
There's two week left for legislative sessions, however it's difficult to get anything passed in lame duck.
"It is, but we're not going to stop," says Hillman.
The family's attorney Tanya Garrett says, "We're trying everything we can possible to get this through."
Gabe's attorney is partnering with other organizations to help push the measure on hoping to prevent the pain Gabe experience from happening to anyone else.
"It doesn't just stay for a moment. It stays for a very long time," Gabe says.
Click on the links below for more information about "Matt's Safe School Law."
