When my husband showed me this bill, I must admit I didn't believe it. The name of the bill is the
Defending America's Most Vulnerable: Safe Access to Drug Treatment and Child Protection Act of 2005 but like other bills, this name is extremely misleading. The summary of the bill states that it "Amends the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) to expand penalties for distributing drugs to persons under age 21 and to cover attempting or conspiring to do so, without regard to the type of controlled substance and schedule. Requires or increases minimum mandatory sentences." If that was all you read of the bill, that would sound good, right? Well, take the time to read the rest and you'll find an attack on parents and families rights.
This is the important section:
SEC. 425. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person who witnesses or learns of a violation of sections 416(b)(2), 417, 418, 419, 420, 424, or 426 to fail to report the offense to law enforcement officials within 24 hours of witnessing or learning of the violation and thereafter provide full assistance in the investigation, apprehension, and prosecution of the person violating paragraph (a).
`(b) Any person who violates subsection (a) of this section shall be sentenced to not less than two years or more than 10 years. If the person who witnesses or learns of the violation is the parent or guardian, or otherwise responsible for the care or supervision of the person under the age of 18 or the incompetent person, such person shall be sentenced to not less than three years or more than 20 years.
So here's a situation parents hope they never have to deal with but many do: You catch your child smoking pot or whatever else their drug of choice is. Of course you explode and give them the lecture from hell. The next step is treatment. You make up some story about your kid going to camp or to visit grandparents and ship them off to rehab. Your first response is to help them - get them better. Right?
Well, according to this bill, that would make you punishable to no less than 3 years and no more than 20. According to this section of this bill, you have to turn your children in to the police. It makes YOU an informant. But it not only makes you one, it makes everyone else one as well. No matter who catches your child, they have to BY LAW turn your child in.
This bill allows the government to tell all parents how to raise our children. It makes it impossible for a child to be able to go to ANYONE for help when they have a drug problem. And it makes it impossible for parents, neighbors, teachers, and friends to get that child the help they need without turning the child into the police.
I believe that I should be able to do what is best for my child and this bill takes away that right. This bill will make us a nation of informants and that will not help my child. Please contact your Congressman and let them know that you will not have your rights as a parent taken away.