Tougher legislation for methamphetamine manufacturers          Send a link to a friend

[March 02, 2007]  SPRINGFIELD -- Legislation sponsored by Sen. Larry Bomke, R-Springfield, to crack down on those who use anhydrous ammonia for methamphetamine production is moving through the Illinois Senate.

Senate Bill 274, to increase the penalties for unlawful anhydrous ammonia possession, won approval in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday and now goes before the full Senate.

"Methamphetamine is wreaking havoc on our communities," says Bomke. "Penalties need to be stronger to stop the production of meth."

Current law states that an attempt to knowingly possess, procure, transport, store or deliver anhydrous ammonia in an unauthorized container is a Class A misdemeanor. Bomke's legislation makes this a Class 3 felony. Anhydrous ammonia, which is used legitimately in agriculture, is also a key ingredient in manufacturing methamphetamine.

A major problem in many areas occurs when people operating illegal meth "labs" steal anhydrous ammonia from agriculture dealers or farmers by tapping into storage tanks and transferring the ammonia into unauthorized and often unsafe containers.

[Text from news release sent on behalf of Sen. Larry Bomke and received from Illinois Senate Republican staff]

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