Thank you, Mike Gonzales

Tehama County Sheriff Dave Hencratt and Assistant Sheriff Phil Johnston signed a letter of endorsement Tuesday to Rep. Wally Herger supporting the Suzanne Gonzales Suicide Prevention Act of 2011.

Suzy’s Law, HR 1183, is an attempt to increase penalties for Internet predators who promote and teach people to commit suicide.

The legislation is driven by Red Bluff couple Mike and Mary Gonzales, who became advocates for suicide prevention after their daughter, Suzanne, took her own life in 2003.

Suzanne, a Red Bluff Union High School graduate with a full-ride scholarship to a Florida State University, swallowed a fatal dose of poison by following the advice of an online suicide advocate.

The sheriff’s endorsement followed a meeting with the Gonzaleses who are working to get the legislation passed.

This is the fourth introduction of the bill to Congress through Herger’s office.

“In this day and age of social networking, I see more and more how people are being influenced by what they see on Internet websites and how they are influenced by an assortment of predators,” Hencratt’s letter reads. “I know this is not only an issue isolated to the citizens of the United States of America, but it reaches beyond our borders to an international level.”

For more information about Suzy’s Law, go to www.suzyslaw.com.

Andrea Wagner can be reached at 527-2153, Advertisement extension 114 or or at awagner@redbluffdailynews.com

Mike Gonzales

Red Bluff woman’s suicide prompts proposed new law

By Janet O’Neill Monday, May 4, 2009 Suzanne Gonzales Suicide Prevention Act of 2009

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 1183 – 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 1183, 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. E.W. Scripps Co. © 2009 Record Searchlight

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 1183, the history behind it, and the circumstances leading to Suzy’s death. He was very passionate when speaking of the need of HR 1183 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 HR1183. 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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (202) 225-3076 (W); (443) 624-2721 (C)

April 2, 2009 matt.lavoie@mail.house.gov

MEDIA ADVISORY

Representative Herger to Hold Press Conference to Discuss “Suzanne Gonzales Suicide Prevention Act”

(CHICO, CA) — Representative Wally Herger (CA-02) today announced that he will hold a press conference next week in Red Bluff, California to discuss legislation he has introduced (H.R. 1183) aimed at punishing those who prey on vulnerable individuals by promoting suicide. The measure was introduced after a local resident, Suzanne Gonzales, took her life after falling victim to an online discussion group that promotes suicide. The Gonzales family and invited guests will join Rep. Herger at the event.

Date: Monday, April 6, 2009 Time: 10:00 AM PDT Location: Tehama County Board of Supervisors Chambers. 727 Oak St. Red Bluff, CA 96080

By way of background, on March 23, 2003, Mike Gonzales of Red Bluff, California, received a call from his 19-year-old daughter, Suzy, who told him, “I love you, Dad. I’ll see you soon.” Hours later, she was dead. An online discussion group promoting suicide encouraged Suzy to take her life and gave her step-by-step instructions on how to do it. Specifically, members of the group encouraged Suzy to pose as a jeweler to obtain a particular deadly chemical that’s not widely available. The website has also been linked to over a dozen other deaths.

In announcing the event, Representative Herger stated, “People suffering from depression need help and treatment. They should not be exploited by sick and twisted individuals who present suicide as just another personal choice. Those who facilitate this irreversible and tragic decision should be held responsible for their actions. That is why I have introduced legislation that would make it a federal crime to use the Internet to help an individual commit suicide.”

Prosecutors told the Gonzales family that there was no law under which the members of the online group could be charged. Although many states have laws prohibiting assistance to suicide, the individuals responsible for Suzy’s death could be residents of any state. H.R. 1183 is narrowly tailored to avoid infringing on freedom of speech or laws passed by state governments.

For more information on the event, please contact Matt Lavoie at 202-225-3076, or Fran Peace at 530-893-8363.