DescentBB

THR wrote:FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 17, 2005, The Drug Policy Alliance
CONTACT: Tony Newman (212) 613-8026; Elizabeth Méndez Berry (212) 513-8036
Senior Republican Proposes "Draft" for the War on Drugs
New Bill Would Require All Americans to Spy on Their Neighbors - Including Going Undercover and Wearing a Wire - or Face Jail Time

Instead of Dismantling Draconian, Unpopular Mandatory Minimum Sentences, Legislation Would Also Establish "Mandatory Minimums" for Every Federal Crime

A Senior Republican in Congress has proposed what would essentially be a draft for the War on Drugs.

The legislation would require all Americans who witness or learn about certain drug offenses to report them to the police within 24 hours and go undercover and wear a wire to catch the offenders if ordered to do so - even if the offender is their son or daughter. Introduced by Congressman James Sensenbrenner (R-WI), the "Safe Access to Drug Treatment and Child Protection Act" (HR 1528), would also overturn a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision by making all federal sentencing guidelines essentially mandatory and enacting new draconian penalties for a variety of non-violent drug offenses.

"Itâ??s frightening that a senior member of Congress wants to draft every American into the War on Drugs and make them agents of the state," said Bill Piper, director of national affairs for the Drug Policy Alliance. "This totalitarian legislation forces citizens to spy on each other and pits family member against family member."

Under the legislation, any American who witnesses or learns of certain drug offenses taking place would have to report the offenses to law enforcement within 24 hours and provide "full assistance" in the investigation, apprehension, and prosecution of the people involved. Failure to do so would be a crime punishable by a mandatory two year prison sentence and a maximum of ten years.

An example of an offense that would have to be reported to the police within 24 hours is finding out that oneâ??s brother, who has children, bought a bag of marijuana to share with his wife. Another example is finding out that oneâ??s son gave his college roommate a marijuana joint.

In each of these cases one is forced to report the relative to the police within 24 hours. One would also have to assist the government in every way, including wearing a wire if needed. Taking 48 hours to think about it could land one in jail. In addition to turning family member against family member, the legislation could also put many ordinary Americans into dangerous situations by forcing them to go undercover to gain evidence against strangers.

Despite growing opposition to mandatory minimum sentences, the bill also eliminates federal judgesâ?? ability to give sentences below the minimum sentence recommended by federal sentencing guidelines - essentially creating a mandatory minimum sentence for every federal offense (including both drug and non-drug offenses). It also mandates a 10-year minimum sentence for anyone 21 or older who gives marijuana or others drugs to someone under 18 (i.e. a 21-year-old college students shares a joint to his 17-year old brother). A second offense would carry a mandatory sentence of life in prison. Anyone at a party who passes a marijuana joint at a party to someone who has at some point in their life been in drug treatment would face a mandatory 5-year minimum prison sentence.

"Our countryâ??s prisons are already overcrowded with people serving massive sentences for non-violent drug offenses," said Bill Piper. "The recent Supreme Court decision provided a perfect opportunity for legislators to do the right thing and untie judgesâ?? hands. Instead, theyâ??re trying to handcuff the judges completely."

The bill has been put on the same legislative fast-track as a recent controversial anti-gang bill that the U.S. House of Representatives passed in less than two monthâ??s time.


http://www.november.org/parole/Proposals/05HR-1528.html
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c109:H.R.1528:

`SEC. 425. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person who witnesses or learns of a violation of sections 416(b)(2), 417, 418, 419, 420, 424, or 426 to fail to report the offense to law enforcement officials within 24 hours of witnessing or learning of the violation and thereafter provide full assistance in the investigation, apprehension, and prosecution of the person violating paragraph (a).


`(b) Any person who violates subsection (a) of this section shall be sentenced to not less than two years or more than 10 years. If the person who witnesses or learns of the violation is the parent or guardian, or otherwise responsible for the care or supervision of the person under the age of 18 or the incompetent person, such person shall be sentenced to not less than three years or more than 20 years.'.

woodchip wrote:Is there anything in that ther bill that makes it O.K. for me to shoot the perps?

woodchip wrote:Is there anything in that ther bill that makes it O.K. for me to shoot the perps?

Birdseye [originally] wrote:Welcome to the new America. This has to be fake. If it isn't... I was right about where recent legislation has been headed.

Birdseye wrote:If this passes I am packing my bags.

Birdseye wrote:If this passes I am packing my bags.

El Ka Bong wrote:... Thank GOD.. ! (..the Female Creative Force that created the Universe..), that I'm safe, raising my family and living here in Canada !

Failure to do so would be a crime punishable by a mandatory two year prison sentence and a maximum of ten years.

Sergeant Thorne wrote:

Failure to do so would be a crime punishable by a mandatory two year prison sentence and a maximum of ten years.

They don't have the prison space.

Under the legislation, any American who witnesses or learns of certain drug offenses taking place would have to report the offenses to law enforcement within 24 hours and provide "full assistance" in the investigation, apprehension, and prosecution of the people involved. Failure to do so would be a crime punishable by a mandatory two year prison sentence and a maximum of ten years.

Birdseye wrote:This has to be fake.

The legislation would require all Americans who witness or learn about certain drug offenses to report them to the police within 24 hours and go undercover and wear a wire to catch the offenders if ordered to do so - even if the offender is their son or daughter