I'm surprised this hasn't been diaried or frontpaged recently, but there's another stealth attack on our independent judiciary which will hit the floor of the House this week: Congressman Sensenbrenner's H.R. 1528, "Defending America's Most Vulnerable: Safe Access to Drug Treatment and Child Protection Act of 2005".
A seven page "bulletized" summary of the bill is available from Families Against Mandatory Minimums here.
This bill really has to be read to be believed. Basically, it extends current bans on drug
dealing "within 1000 feet of a school" to colleges, day care centers, drug rehab places and anywhere there are kids.
A witness to the House subcommittee, a former State's Attorney from Massachusetts (former narc) last month testified (with maps) that the current "school zone" legislation is overly broad, since basically all property in urban areas is within 1000 feet of a school zone. This bill also ratchets up mandatory minimums on all of these drug crimes in a manner which suggests the House conservatives are still intent on duking it out with judges as to whether they will have any discretion to not mete out harsh sentences of imprisonment based on sentencing tables and mandatory minimums.
I really have to suggest you all read the FAMM summary of this bill cited above. This is truly hair-raising stuff, not only because of its continued harsh approach on the unwinnable War on Drugs, but because of the creation of these entirely new and unprecedented classes of crimes, particularly the conspiracy elements but also this incredible provision of a proposed new subsection of Sec. 326 of the Controlled Substances Act which makes it a crime punishible by up to two years in prison if you suspect someone is dealing any controlled substance (including pot) you must report it to the police within 24 hours and assist in that person's apprehension and conviction.
Folks, I'm sorry but Godwin's law is proposing to be overruled here. These provisions are as disturbing as anything which was on the books in Nazi Germany.
Write your congressperson NOW by clicking this here link!!!