Cyber - Gossip?

I've never been a victim of cyber gossip but I have family and friends who have. They actually tried to contact the police about it because the people targeting them were making threats and the police told them there was nothing they could do because in our state(Alabama) they have no law dealing with cyber crimes or through text messages. I don't see how our state doesn't have any law if what the police said was true. I mean the people I know had already been attacked once before but luckily nothing has happened since then. The people messaging and commenting threats and other hateful things eventually stopped since the person blocked them and stopped responding. I just want to say that I don't understand why people post such things online. And some even fight online where everyone can see it. I think if you have an issue with someone, talk to them in person if possible or at least in private messages or on the phone.