SHOOK TALKS METH TO SENATORS

The same week that he traveled to Raleigh to speak to the Senate Judiciary
Committee in favor of legislation for increasing the penalties for
methamphetamine production, Sheriff Mark Shook not only led the raid on
another Watauga County meth lab, but also watched a two-time offender make
bail and leave the detention center. "I predict that within a month, we'll
be getting him again," Shook said.

Those three events - occurring within days and hours of each other -
characterize the circle that meth offenders have created in the county, a
circle that law enforcement personnel and prosecutors hope will be broken by
the General Assembly's passage of tougher penalties for methamphetamine
producers.

Shook, along with Deep Gap firefighter Darien South who lost half of his
lung capacity fighting a meth-related fire in January 2003, appeared last
week with Attorney General Roy Cooper to urge judiciary committee members to
approve the bill. Cooper personally asked Shook and South to make
presentations to the committee.

Convinced by the testimony, the committee voted its approval of the bill on
May 27, and the bill was placed on the Senate calendar for June 1. On that
day, the bill passed its second reading in a vote of 47 to 0. A similar bill
has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee.

Under Senate Bill 1054, unlawful distribution of methamphetamine that
results in the death of a person carries a charge of second degree murder,
and the bill makes manufacturing methamphetamine in a location that
endangers a child an aggravating factor. The bill increases the criminal
penalties for methamphetamine manufacture and for the possession of
precursor substances.

Shook said that during his appearance, he read a statement to the committee
outlining what local law enforcement personnel have witnessed: children
exposed to the toxic byproducts of meth production and the disposal of
contaminated containers in area creeks. "Most of the senators on the
committee are from the east[ern part of the state]," Shook said, "and I told
them that when a hurricane's coming, they get a storm warming that gives
them time to get out of harm's way." Then I said, "Today's your warning.
There's a storm coming that you can't run away from."

Shook said that committee members asked him to profile the common meth user
and to explain why Watauga County had so many meth lab busts. Shook
explained that the department was proactive about working meth cases because
involvement with the drug leads to so many other problems, including
break-ins, assaults, domestic violence and child abuse. About the proposed
legislation, Shook said, "I think it's great."

He hopes, however, that the final draft includes an amendment sponsored by
Senator Virginia Foxx that would provide separate penalties for injuries to
a law enforcement officer, first responder or other emergency rescue worker.
Shook is hoping for quick passage in the House and an effective date in
July.

Shook sees his invitation to address the senate judiciary committee as a
tribute to the entire department. "I've told them, 'Guys, this is something
we can be proud of,'" Shook said, "The whole state is taking notice."