State Senate Republican Leader Louis C. DeLuca (R-Woodbury) today praised Governor M. Jodi Rell for vetoing a bill that would have greatly increased the amount of crack a criminal can possess before being subject to minimum dealing/distribution penalties. Senator DeLuca had opposed the bill on the floor of the State Senate and encouraged the Governor to veto the bill after it had passed that chamber.
"The Democrats passed a bill that would have done nothing but make life easier for drug dealers caught with up to $2800 worth of crack cocaine - thankfully Governor Rell has done the law abiding people of Connecticut a great service by vetoing this misguided legislation," said Senator DeLuca. "I don't know what changed in the world to make the Democrats think we should send the message that 'it's okay to deal crack unless it's a LOT of crack,' but I am grateful Governor Rell understands we need to stay strong in our anti-drug effort. People found in possession of $2800 worth of crack are not addicts or confused kids caught in the wrong place at the wrong time - these are the dealers, the very parasites who prey on the weak and addicted by selling this deadly drug. It is beyond me why the Democrats would want to go easy on them."
During the original Senate debate, Senator DeLuca had pointed out the that current law allows for individuals caught with more than a half gram of crack cocaine to avoid prosecution as a dealer if they can prove they are addicted to the drug. He also pointed out that the original mandatory minimum laws were passed in the mid-80's during an epidemic of crack abuse that brought much violence and addiction to the state's urban areas.
"The current law works - people who are addicted are given the opportunity to get help, and those who are dealing crack are subject to a deserved punishment," added Senator DeLuca. "I've said it before - we used to have a crack problem in our cities, and now we don't. It seems to me that maybe the laws are working." |
