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Stuck in Sussex by Heroin Needles

December 11th, 2006 by Dan Gaffney

We’ve been lied to about the “needle exchange” bill that passed the Delaware General Assembly. Local lawmaker Pete Schwartzkopf (14th District) defended his support for this free needle distribution program many times on my radio show. Here is what Pete, and other supporters of the bill said, and what we are now learning is the dirty truth about the bill:

#1 “This is a very controlled operation with specially marked needles”

“Program participants will get state-issued ID cards” “They will show the card to exchange workers to get clean needles and to police to show that they are exempt from drug paraphernalia laws. “The clean needles won’t be marked, as was once planned”

#2 “This only effects Wilmington”

Oh really? “Although the exchange program will operate only in Wilmington, anyone with an ID card can have needles anywhere in Delaware without being prosecuted for possession of paraphernalia.”

#3 “The State is not flooding the streets with more needles, you have to exchange a needle to get a needle”

“the exchange won’t have to be even, one dirty needle for one clean one.”

I’m wondering what the exchange will be! Can Sussex smack users go to Wilmington, get an ID and several needles, and be free of prosecution after shooting up on the boardwalk? If the above quoted News Journal article is correct, then we’ve been sold a crock of lies concerning this “clean needle” law.

This entry was posted on Monday, December 11th, 2006 at 9:52 am and is filed under Health, Law, Local Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

3 Responses to “Stuck in Sussex by Heroin Needles”

  1. commonsense Says:
    December 11th, 2006 at 10:03 am

    so, a copy of the bill wasn’t available to you to read for yourself?

  2. Jordo Says:
    December 11th, 2006 at 12:46 pm

    Why am I not surprised. I am tired of this story. But I haven’t heard anyone question Swartzkopf’s philosophy of ethics yet. He justifies the fact that our tax dollars are being used to fund drug use by saying that someone may avoid getting AIDs. But that is assuming that the ends justifies the means. Don’t misunderstand me. Swartzkopf seems to be a very nice and well intentioned man. But do we want to stoop to this philosophy? If we continue to say that the ends justifies the means, my fear is that we could justify anything regardless of how wrong it is.

  3. SimpleSimon Says:
    December 13th, 2006 at 5:21 pm

    So we give the junkies a pass for engaging in illegal and self-destructive behavior. BRILLIANT !! Guess if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. Do you have to have proof of AIDS to exchange a needle? Maybe I should try a little smack, knowing I won’t be procecuted…..wait. The drugs and paraphernalia are still illegal, yes? Then how could one get a pass for posessing paraphernalia? What’s the difference between paraphernalia and drugs? I really don’t get it. It makes no sense.

    It makes no sense for the State of Delaware to be involved in this.

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