Kennedy introduces bill to protect communities by cracking down on fentanyl trafficking

WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today introduced the Fairness in Fentanyl Sentencing Act of 2023 to crack down on fentanyl trafficking by lowering the threshold required for minimum sentencing in light of the drug’s potency relative to other substances.

The current mandatory minimum threshold does not reflect the substance’s capacity to end lives. For reference, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) states that a mere two milligrams of fentanyl—which can fit on the tip of a pencil—can kill a person. As a result, a lower quantity of fentanyl should trigger a mandatory minimum sentence.

“Fentanyl is 50 times more powerful than heroin. It’s killing Americans, and the justice system needs to make sure that the criminals who are blanketing our communities with fentanyl get sentenced appropriately. The Fairness in Fentanyl Sentencing Act would bring justice to the Louisiana families who have lost loved ones to this scourge,” said Kennedy.

Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Katie Britt (R-Ala.) cosponsored the legislation.

“Current federal mandatory minimums are drastically out of step with the deadly threat fentanyl poses to American lives. Fentanyl-related overdoses kill 70,000 Americans each year and cause a new 9/11 every two weeks. I’m glad to work with my colleagues on this legislation. We know that even a miniscule amount of fentanyl can be lethal. It’s time the federal code treat fentanyl for what it is: a weapon of mass destruction,” said Graham. 

“Fentanyl kills over 70,000 Americans each year and is more powerful than most other drugs, but federal sentences for fentanyl trafficking don’t currently reflect its immense threat. We should strengthen these penalties and ensure fentanyl traffickers face the consequences of their crimes,” said Cotton.

“Fentanyl is stealing lives and devastating families in every corner of Alabama and America. This crisis is infiltrating our schools and our communities, and it is past time that we hold the criminals profiting off of this poison accountable. This legislation is an important part of comprehensively addressing the supply of and demand for fentanyl in our country, so we can keep our children safe and our future strong,”said Britt.

Current mandatory minimum sentences for fentanyl trafficking only apply when a trafficker possesses 40 grams or more of fentanyl or 10 grams or more of a fentanyl analogue. The Fairness in Fentanyl Sentencing Act of 2023 would reduce the threshold of possession for minimum prison sentences to two grams of fentanyl or 0.5 grams of a fentanyl analogue.

Background:

  • Fentanyl is now the leading cause of death among Americans ages 18-45.
  • The CDC states that deaths from fentanyl and fentanyl analogues increased 56% from 2019-2020. According to data, that number is expected to increase for 2021. 
  • Last year, the DEA seized enough fentanyl to kill 379 million people—more than the entire U.S. population.

Full text of the bill is available here.

The Thinking Conservative
The Thinking Conservativehttps://www.thethinkingconservative.com/
The goal of THE THINKING CONSERVATIVE is to help us educate ourselves on conservative topics of importance to our freedom and our pursuit of happiness. We do this by sharing conservative opinions on all kinds of subjects, from all types of people, and all kinds of media, in a way that will challenge our perceptions and help us to make educated choices.

Columns

This is Not Democrats vs Republicans, This is Evil vs Good

Myself and so many other Christian conservative journalists and...

Elon Musk Exposes Democrat Dark Money Tied to New Protests

Trump and Musk fear Democrat’s graft and corruption of Federal dollars may exceed $1T with money having gone to foreign countries where it can't be traced.

Propaganda Wars: Corporate Media’s Pro-Seed Oil Blitz

Arguing against seed oil apologists is among the most tiresome exercises in futility. No matter what evidence you present to them, it won’t move the needle.

Why The Silence About The Slaughter In Syria?

In Syria, the Islamist regime conducted revenge killings targeting supporters of Assad. Militants killed innocent Muslims, Christians and religious minoritie.

“Trump to BAN the COVID Vaxx?! mRNA in Your Organic Meat?!” with Kim Bright

In this eye-opening episode of Man in America, host...

News

California Bill Would Limit Residents’ Ability to Use Deadly Force to Defend Their Property

A California bill that would restrict the use of lethal force to defend people’s property from criminals could be heard by a legislative committee March 24.

Air Force Fighter Jets Intercept Aircraft Flying in Restricted Zone Near Mar-a-Lago

Air Force fighter jets intercepted a civilian aircraft that flew in restricted airspace near President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, NORAD said.

ICE Arrests Palestinian Green Card Holder Who Led Columbia University Protest

U.S. immigration agents arrested a Palestinian student and permanent resident who led the pro-Palestinian encampment protest at Columbia University last year.

The Legal Loophole That Costs Medicaid Billions

Few seem to know how the Medicaid system works, what it costs, or the level of unnecessary spending hidden within its $880 billion annual budget.

Los Angeles Lost Track of Billions in Homelessness Funding, Audit Finds

An audit commissioned by a federal judge found that...

Columbia Vows Action on Anti-Semitism After $400 Million in Federal Funds Revoked

Columbia University is addressing concerns raised by federal agencies after $400 million in grants and contracts were revoked over anti-Semitism on campus.

China Intensifies Pressure as States Pass Laws to Counter Beijing’s Growing Influence

Chuck DeVore remembers when the FBI visited him some 17 years ago as a California lawmaker to tell him that he was under surveillance by the Chinese regime.

CDC Alerted of Hantavirus That Killed Betsy Arakawa, Considered ‘Notifiable Disease’

CDC says hantavirus is a “severe and potentially deadly disease that affects the lungs” and is contracted when exposed to rodents’ urine, droppings, and saliva.
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

MAGA Business Central