This news item is a few weeks old now, but since this site wasn’t up a few weeks ago I’m going to mention it now. That’s how important this one is.

Congressman Sensenbrenner (R-Wi) has introduced legislation in the House that will make it a crime to not report certain drug offenses that you learn of or witness.

The innocently named bill, titled “Defending America’s Most Vulnerable: Safe Access to Drug Treatment and Child Protection Act of 2005 ” is anything but innocent. If passed, this legislation would require you to report to local law enforcement, within 24 hours, if you simply become aware of one of many drug related offenses by a anyone under the age of 18.

Not only are you required to report these individuals, you are also required to assist the government in investigating, apprehending, and prosecuting these individuals. I presume this could mean you would be asked to wear a wire to entrap the individual, or you could even be asked to testify against a family member.

And if you choose not to report the individual or assist to government? You would face, at minimum, a 2 year sentence!

The following is quoted directly from the legislation:

`SEC. 425. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person who witnesses or learns of a violation of sections 416(b)(2), 417, 418, 419, 420, 424, or 426 to fail to report the offense to law enforcement officials within 24 hours of witnessing or learning of the violation and thereafter provide full assistance in the investigation, apprehension, and prosecution of the person violating paragraph (a).

`(b) Any person who violates subsection (a) of this section shall be sentenced to not less than two years or more than 10 years. If the person who witnesses or learns of the violation is the parent or guardian, or otherwise responsible for the care or supervision of the person under the age of 18 or the incompetent person, such person shall be sentenced to not less than three years or more than 20 years.’

If you find that your son or daughter is experimenting with drugs, this horrible legislation attempts to force you to turn in your own child instead of handling it as a family issue. If you notice a high school student smoking a joint, and let it go unreported, this bill makes you a criminal.

Neighbors spying on neighbors, which was a cornerstone of Stalinist Russia, has no place in America. This country was founded as the land of the free, and we have to do everything within our power to make it so again. Downsize DC is doing a campaign against this legislation. On their web site, they allow you to complete a simple form to send a petition directly to your representatives in congress. This only takes a couple of minutes, so please click here to help Downsize DC stop this evil legislation.