Pubdate: Tue, 09 Dec 2003 Source: Savannah Morning News (GA) Copyright: 2003 Savannah Morning News Contact: http://www.savannahnow.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/401 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) Editorial - CHILDREN AT RISK THE RISING use of methamphetamine in Georgia and the rest of the Southeast has created a new group of innocent victims - children who are injured or killed while their parents are making the illegal drug., also known as speed or crank. Unfortunately, Georgia remains the only state in the country where adults can't be held criminally responsible for putting their children in harm's way. Consequently, some children pay a steep price. One of the latest was a year-old infant from Catoosa County who died of injuries he received after he was badly burned by fire his father was using for cooking. More specifically, the man was cooking meth in a coffeepot over a propane flame when he accidentally injured his child. Such a twisted notion of family values should be against the law. Indeed, Gov. Sonny Perdue plans to do exactly that during the next session of the Georgia Legislature. He is crafting a measure that will help protect children from abusive or reckless adults, particularly those who endanger young people by exposing them to the toxic and explosive materials used to make methamphetamine, a growing problem in this part of the country. In fact, it's the Georgia Bureau of Investigation that's pushing for tougher penalties. The GBI reports that the number of meth labs raided by authorities jumped from 29 in 1999 to 395 last year. Children are being exposed to dangerous chemicals and fumes during the illegal drug-making process. But unless youths are physically harmed, holding parents criminally responsible for exposing their children to these dangers is difficult. Most adults who make this drug, often in remote rural areas where people won't notice the strong odors, aren't upstanding citizens or great thinkers. A child endangerment law might not affect their behavior - at least not at first. However, once prosecutors make a case or two, and throw a big thick book at the offenders, maybe some meth-makers will get it through their thick skulls that they could get a longer sentence if their children hang around their makeshift labs. The governor's support for such a bill is encouraging. Combined with Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor's earlier announced support for legislation that would punish adults who leave loaded handguns lying around the house, or those who injure children during violent disputes with a spouse, next year's legislature should be child-friendly for a change. Lawmakers have tried unsuccessfully for the past four annual sessions to pass a child endangerment law or related felony statute. Each time, it got knocked down by legislators who feared that overzealous prosecutors could unfairly target parents for disciplining their children or for accidents that were unavoidable. Some opponents believed that such bills were anti-gun - even though the National Rifle Association said it didn't oppose such changes. In fact, responsible gun owners support common-sense rules that protect innocent lives and prevent children from being hurt because of negligence. Protecting children is a non-partisan effort. Republicans and Democrats should unite around this cause and find a way to combine the Perdue-backed bill with the one Mr. Taylor is sponsoring. That way, Georgians should wind up with a comprehensive protection plan that safeguards children who are hurt or killed because of reckless or uncaring parents or guardians. It's a shame that Georgia needs such a law. But it's worse that some infants are dying so drug users and their suppliers can do business. It's time Georgia joins the rest of the nation and values young lives. - --- MAP posted-by: Jackl