Pubdate: Thu, 29 Apr 2004
Source: Jackson Sun News (TN)
Copyright: 2004 The Jackson Sun
Contact:  http://www.jacksonsun.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1482
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

BREDESEN TAKES ON METH BATTLE WHERE GA FAILED

The methamphetamine problem in Tennessee is one of the worst in the 
country. Recent studies show the vast majority of meth sold in the South is 
made in Tennessee. Clearly, the state can wait no longer to act on this menace.

The General Assembly shirked its responsibility to address the problem this 
session. It said that since there was no money available to fund a 
meth-fighting effort, the GA would put the matter off until a later date. 
It's another case of lawmakers sticking their heads in the sand. Meanwhile, 
the meth problem is growing, destroying lives and endangering the public.

Fortunately, Gov. Phil Bredesen is taking what action he can. He has 
established a meth task force and charged the 20-member panel to report 
back to him by Sept. 1 with a list of "down-to-Earth, straightforward 
things we can do to begin tackling this problem."

One of the things Bredesen is proposing to the GA is to stiffen criminal 
penalties for meth possession to bring them in line with cocaine and crack 
penalties. Currently, meth possession is a lesser crime, though a greater 
danger to the public, than cocaine or crack. That doesn't make sense.

The GA should act quickly to amend state law making the meth penalties the 
same as cocaine and crack. That would mean meth offenders could be 
sentenced to eight to 30 years in jail instead of the three to 15 years 
under current law. Under current state law, a convicted meth offender could 
be out of jail in about a year. That's only a few days more than the 
penalty for many misdemeanor offenses in Tennessee.

Stiffer sentences won't solve the meth problem. But it can help get some of 
these offenders off the street and into jail where they belong. It also 
sends a message to meth producers and sellers that the state is getting 
serious about this problem. It is a message the GA could have and should 
have sent. Thank goodness Bredesen is willing to act.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom