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.
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