|
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]
 |
