A DETERRENT FOR METH PRODUCERS

Although making it harder to find methamphetamine ingredients will probably
aggravate manufacturers and distributors, it will not stop criminals from
concocting the drug for the street; they'll probably just raise the price
to cover the extra time and expenses.

The Legislature should consider penalties that would deter the manufacture
and distribution of methamphetamine. How about 25 years with no parole for
the first offense unless the meth was sold to someone under 18, in which
case an extra 10 years without parole would be added?

A second offense would carry 35 years with the proviso for the extra 10.

Making the penalty act as a deterrent has worked well in Europe to
virtually eliminate driving while intoxicated in many countries. It
wouldn't take long to work here for manufacturing and distributing meth
once a few 20-year-olds figured out that they would get out of prison when
they were 55.

Robert E. Macgill
Sherwood