Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

Police said the boy was walking home Tuesday afternoon from his school in northeast Philadelphia when three teens approached him.The victim, an eighth grader at Woodrow Wilson Middle School, did not report the attack.

The victim told police that two teens beat him and the third recorded the attack on a cell phone. Investigators said the suspects uploaded the video on Facebook and a concerned parent saw it and contacted authorities.

I am introducing legislation to Amend Title 18 Pa.consolidated statutes by adding a section to read:

§ 5905. Internet posting of criminal activity.
(a) Offense defined.--A person commits an offense under this section if the person posts on a publicly accessible website any photograph, film, videotape or similar recording of the identifiable image of any person engaged in activity that would constitute a criminal or summary offense under this title or Title 75 (relating to transportation) for no legitimate purpose.

Grading for this type of offense would be: A misdemeanor of the first degree when the person depicted is a minor or a person 65 years of the age or older. A misdemeanor of the second degree when the person depicted is not a minor.

These types of senseless violence are being celebrated on social media sites far too often. This is not a game, this is assault. Legislation is necessary to put some muscle behind these random acts of violence and gutless posting of videos to help prevent this from reoccurring.

If you have any questions, please contact my Harrisburg office. Thank you for your consideration.