Pubdate: Thu, 01 Jul 2004
Source: Mountain Times, The (NC)
Copyright: 2004 The Mountain Times.
Contact: P.O. Box 1815, Boone, NC 28607
Website: http://www.mountaintimes.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1699
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BUDGET INCLUDES FOXX AMMENDMENT TO PROTECT RESCUE WORKERS

Meth Manufacturers Would Receive Strict Penalties When Lab Explosions Harm 
Firefighters, Police

Meth offenders would receive an additional five years in prison if their 
labs harm emergency service personnel, thanks to an amendment to the state 
budget introduced by Sen. Virginia Foxx, R-Watauga. The North Carolina 
Senate approved the budget yesterday.

Foxx was inspired to toughen the law after receiving a plea from the mother 
of a former Deep Gap volunteer firefighter who nearly died while fighting a 
blaze at a meth lab.

The five-term state Senator and Congressional candidate said that she is 
pleased that her amendment could be included in the state budget. "This is 
the very least we can do for our firefighters, police officers and EMS 
workers who risk their lives for their communities on a daily basis," she said.

Foxx, whose Senate district has been plagued by methamphetamine, has made 
it a mission to stop the proliferation of the drug. Last month, she also 
co-sponsored a bill to increase criminal penalties for those who 
distribute, manufacture and possess meth.
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