Source: Pasadena Star-News and KNBC News
15-year old Larry King was gunned down in an Oxnard classroom
photo via BAR and Ventura County StarEL MONTE -- The shooting death of 15-year-old gay student last week in what authorities are investigating as a hate crime prompted Assemblyman Mike Eng, D-Monterey Park, to introduce legislation that could prevent such actions in the future.
Lawrence King was gunned down Tuesday by his Oxnard classmate. King, an eighth grader at E.O. Green Junior High School, was teased at school because of the effeminate way he dressed.
On Monday, Eng unveiled his plan for a bill that would promote tolerance among students, teachers, parents and administrators.
The legislation would require school districts to have mandatory classes on tolerance, Eng said.
"We need to teach young people that there's a curriculum called tolerance education that should be in every school. We should teach young people that diversity is not something to be assaulted, but diversity is something that needs to be embraced because diversity makes California the great state that it is," Eng said.
Eng, who also serves as the chairman of the Assembly Select Committee on Hate Crimes, said the legislation will be introduced Tuesday.
Eng said he introduced a similar but less comprehensive bill last year, but it was vetoed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
"I was shocked when I heard about the tragic death of Larry King," Eng said Monday. "I thought that if our legislation had been enacted, perhaps there would have been a different result."
Full article: Eng announces tolerance-promoting bill - Pasadena Star-News
Tolerance Classes Could Be OK'd After Teen Shot During School | KNBC