Bullying is defined as abusive behavior that targets a person's gender, religion, race, sexual orientation, or national origin. Laws against this type of behavior in schools should be in place. These laws help prevent suicide, maintain order and morality in society while providing legal protection, and prevent long-term negative effects. The first reason anti-bullying laws in schools are necessary is because they help prevent suicide. Studies show that today in the United States, “suicide is the third leading cause of death among young people aged twelve to nine” (Leavasseur 3). These are the ages that school-aged children are most easily influenced by. “Suicide rates quadrupled from those in 1950” (Stacy Teicher Khadaroo 1) as education became more necessary. “For every death recorded, research suggests that many more adolescents think about or attempt suicide” (Stacy Teicher Khadaroo 1). Because it is a place where students are forced to spend the majority of their young lives, the responsibility to prevent their students from becoming another statistic falls on schools today. When schools do not accept these responsibilities for enforcing anti-bullying rules, things like what happened to Rebecca Ann Sedwick happen. Two classmates bullied Rebecca to the point where she couldn't take it anymore. She tried to change schools, but the bullying continued. Rebecca then climbed to the top of a deserted silo and jumped to her death. The alleged girls who committed the taunts were later charged with crimes (USA Today 1). Rebecca became another number and two girls were charged with major crimes because action was not taken. In order to prevent more cases like this, anti-bullying laws are needed...... middle of document....... 2014 n.pag.SIRS Issues Researcher. Internet. April 14, 2014. Teicher Khadaroo, Stacy. “Adolescent suicide: prevention is also contagious. » Christian Science Monitor. December 08, 2013: researcher on np SIRS issues. Internet. April 14, 2014. “Using new tools to combat new forms of bullying. » THE UNITED STATES TODAY. October 24, 2013: A.8.Researcher on SIRS issues. Internet. April 14, 2014 Levasseur, Michael T., Elizabeth A. Kelvin and Nicholas A. Grosskopf. “IntersectingIdentities and the association between bullying and suicide attempts among New York City youth: Results from the 2009 New York City Youth Risk Behavior Survey.” American Journal of Public Health 103.6 (2013): 1082-1089. Premier Academic Research. Internet. April 28, 2014. Kalman, Israel C. “Why Psychology Fails to Solve the Problem of Bullying.” » International Journal On World Peace 30.2 (2013): 71-97. Premier Academic Research. Internet. April 28. 2014.