Methamphetamine In The Valley
Delegate C. Todd Gilbert, (R) - House District 15 who represents the Counties of Page, Rappahannock, Rockingham (part), and Shenandoah has introduced HB 785.
The bill will make any conviction involving any substance that contains any quantity of methamphetamine, including its salts, isomers, and salts of isomers, punishable by the same sentencing guidelines applicable to a cocaine conviction.
This is a good bill.
Meth has become a rather big problem in the valley. Click here to read more. It's highly addictive and causes those that become addicted to do things like sell their homes, cars, clothes, etc., in order to finance their addiction.
One thing that jumps out at you in the DEA report (linked above) is that fact that, "The Shenandoah Valley region contains the highest percentage of methamphetamine abusers in the state, and was the first area of the state to receive a huge influx of Mexican immigrants, whose presence encouraged an expansion of existing Mexican drug-trafficking networks."
To learn more about Meth, please read this report from the U.S. Dept. of Justice.
On a side note, I am not so sure that I agree with HB 1312, also introduced by Del. Gilbert, which eliminates the requirement that law-enforcement officers permit motorists to observe the reading on a radar device.
I know when I get pulled over, I always like to see mine!
posted by RBV @ 6:39 PM
5 comments
5 Comments:
Mr.BS:
Almost two weeks ago, the Senate Courts Committee killed (vote 10-5 SB335) a measure to extend to meth-dealers the same sentencing guidelines for cocaine dealers. This bill was introduced by State Sen. Mark Obenshain.
Looks like 2/3's of the Senate Courts Committee stole your idea.
No one in Richmond payed attention when Southwest Va was ate up with a Meth problem. Fortunetly we have a few sheriff's that are on the ball and went after the makers/dealers day and night. It's still around but either well hidden or in a lot less quantities than before. Now the original makers will be getting out of jail since they only got a few months and will resume production. A short sentence never teaches them anything. As a volunteer fireman I can verify it's a dangerous drug to everyone who has to respond. Give the makers/dealers life and get them off the streets.
scrapiron points to root problem of all drug problems. Law enforcement is doing a great job of catching the users and dealers, but our courts do nothing to them. Some are plea bargined into probation, some get only a few weeks or months in jail.
For something that involoves so much money, you will never stop it; but you need a deterrent if you want to keep it under control.
I got a great deterrent to meth.
Legalize it.
Meth DESTROYED my best friend from high school. Let's get it off the streets and put the thugs who make it into jail.
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