Pubdate: Sun, 23 Mar 2003 Source: Joplin Globe, The (MO) Copyright: 2003 The Joplin Globe Contact: http://www.joplinglobe.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/859 TOUGHER ON METH State Sen. Gary Nodler has proposed a plan that would make the manufacture of a controlled substance within 2,000 feet of a school a Class A felony . Nodler said the bill was introduced at the request of Dennis Veach, Carthage police chief, and was supported in testimony by Frank Lundien, an investigator for the Jasper County Drug Task Force, and Sheldon Lineback, executive director of the Missouri Police Chiefs Association. "In recent years," Nodler said, "Missouri has seen a rise in the manufacture of methamphetamine, a powerful, highly addictive drug. Unlike other illegal substances, meth can be manufactured in dangerous, makeshift labs. Often these makeshift labs are located in our neighborhoods and near our schools. The horror stories surrounding meth production are frightening. It's crucial that we protect our children from the damage done by this and other drugs, by passing tougher laws that offer greater punishment for the offender." We can't agree more. Meth is dangerous not only as an addictive drug for users, but the labs can emit toxic fumes, and the chemical concoctions are highly volatile. Law enforcement agencies wear special protective clothing in cleaning up these sites. Explosions that destroy a room, a garage or a house are not unheard of. It is unimaginable that one these labs might be near a school. It is difficult to tell how Missouri's war on meth is going. More and more labs are being discovered and destroyed, and more and more makers and traffickers are being sent to jail. But meth remains a highly popular drug for addicts and a highly profitable one for manufacturers. Missouri needs to get tougher with meth makers and sellers. The state may not eliminate this trade with new anti-drug laws, but it could make the climate for those who set up the labs more hostile. - --- MAP posted-by: Alex