NO REASON TO ARGUE

Some bills should be easy to pass

Among the many pieces of legislation introduced during this regular session
of the Alabama legislature is a four-bill package proposed by Sen. Lowell
Barron, D-Fyffe, dealing with crystal methamphetamine, which continues to be
a major drug problem in the rural northeastern part of the state.

One of the bills - the chief "no brainer" among them - has passed the Senate
and may be considered in the House this week. The bill would require those
convicted of operating a meth lab to pay restitution to the state for the
cost of cleaning up the dangerous chemicals used in the making of the drug.
Nobody with a brain could oppose the idea that people convicted of a crime
that involves dangerous materials should be held responsible for the cost of
bringing in specialized personnel and equipment to clean it up.

The money the convicted meth makers pay would go back to the forensics
department. The quicker the bill passes, Barron says, the quicker the state
forensics department can reclaim some of the cost of dealing with meth labs.

We don't see room for argument against this bill. It is something the House
should pass quickly.

The other bills in Barron's package deal with prosecution and sentencing in
meth cases. One makes it illegal to possess one of the precursor chemicals
used in making meth in large quantities. Another would make it illegal for
an individual to knowingly sell the ingredients used to make methamphetamine
to someone for that purpose.

The fourth bill in Barron's package makes those convicted of manufacturing
crystal meth ineligible for community corrections - a provision found in
other laws regarding other kinds of drugs as well.

Methamphetamine is a drug problem that has taken a particular hold in
Northeast Alabama. Its manufacture remains largely a rural problem, because
of the odors associated with the dangerous process of making this highly
addictive drug.

To curb its manufacture and the spread of the drug, law enforcement officers
need laws easing their ability to charge known meth-makers and those who
enable them, and the sentences for their crimes should reflect the danger of
the drug and the dangers posed to the community by its manufacture.

These bills should not get lost among the legislation before lawmakers in
this second half of the session.