Saturday, April 28, 2007
House approves more severe penalty for selling drugs in parks
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.
The House voted 124-26 for legislation making it a Class A felony to sell heroin, cocaine, LSD, amphetamine or methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of city, county, state or private park.
Rep. Leonard Hughes said the measure targets specific people using specific drugs in certain parts of the state, and it would make drug offenses in urban areas a more serious offense than those committed in suburban and rural parts of the state.
"This is another attempt to fill more prisons with more youths of color," said Hughes, D-Kansas City.
But Republicans said opponents' arguments that the bill unfairly targets minorities and city-dwellers does not make sense because there are parks throughout the state.
"It's complete stupidity. If you violate this law, it applies statewide, it applies to everyone in the state," said Rep. Gary Dusenberg, R-Blue Springs.
State law already allows for up to life sentences for manufacturing and selling drugs within 2,000 feet of schools, colleges and school buses.
Rep. Darrell Pollock said his bill targets only those who are breaking the law.
"We need to send the message that we are tough on crime. We need to send the message that we are tough on drugs," said Pollock, R-Lebanon.
The House voted 124-26 for legislation making it a Class A felony to sell heroin, cocaine, LSD, amphetamine or methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of city, county, state or private park.
Rep. Leonard Hughes said the measure targets specific people using specific drugs in certain parts of the state, and it would make drug offenses in urban areas a more serious offense than those committed in suburban and rural parts of the state.
"This is another attempt to fill more prisons with more youths of color," said Hughes, D-Kansas City.
But Republicans said opponents' arguments that the bill unfairly targets minorities and city-dwellers does not make sense because there are parks throughout the state.
"It's complete stupidity. If you violate this law, it applies statewide, it applies to everyone in the state," said Rep. Gary Dusenberg, R-Blue Springs.
State law already allows for up to life sentences for manufacturing and selling drugs within 2,000 feet of schools, colleges and school buses.
Rep. Darrell Pollock said his bill targets only those who are breaking the law.
"We need to send the message that we are tough on crime. We need to send the message that we are tough on drugs," said Pollock, R-Lebanon.
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