An Oklahoma City senator asked the House speaker Thursday to allow a vote on her bill that would strengthen the law on adults supplying beer and alcohol on their property to minors.
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Sen. Debbe Leftwich, D-Oklahoma City, said Senate Bill 1530, known as the "social host bill,” is designed to combat what she described as a growing epidemic of adults providing minors with alcohol.
"I have been extremely disappointed with the inaction of the members of the House of Representatives in this issue. It sat in a committee where its chairman, State Rep. Rex Duncan, deliberately sabotaged the bill and simply refused to allow an up-or-down vote on the measure,” Leftwich wrote House Speaker Chris Benge.
Duncan, R-Sand Springs, said a House bill with similar language was defeated 15-2 in committee earlier this year, adding that the committee felt current laws were adequate.
Leftwich requested Benge allow language of SB 1530 to be put into a committee bill so a vote can be made on it.
"Mr. Speaker, your party has pushed hard for measures you say are ‘pro-life,' however, measure after measure that seek to protect that life once that child is born has died a slow and painful death at your hands,” she wrote.
House Speaker Chris Benge said he hadn't seen the letter and declined to comment until after he had a chance to review it.
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It seems to me that house under new leadership has no leadership on real issues. This is an issue for the protection of our most valuable resourses our children. Alcohol is a drug an it is suprising how many parents supply or are at least reluctant to to stop the supply of this drug.
Speaker Benge this is not big business talking so it may not get your attention but get off your duff and and do real stuff.
What good is strengthening the law going to do? It is already against the law to provide alcohol to minors and yet people still do it. No matter what the penalty, people are still going to do it.
I don't think it is that big a deal Kevin, in fact I think that we have an extremely hypocritical stance in this country in regards to what drugs are 'bad' and which drugs aren't. Some of the most addictive drugs know to man are supplied by drug companies and then distributed by legalized drug dealers, i.e. physicians. Alcohol and other recreational drugs when used in moderation could be a good thing if it weren't for so many people who like to ride the high horse of morality. Oxycontin is a legal drug that is more addictive than heroin, yet marijuana is illegal and less harmful than tobacco. It baffles me that we as a society passively allow this state of ignorance. And after all, we’re talking about alcohol. You can go to war for our country when you’re 18 and be deemed responsible enough to decide between innocent civilians and enemy combatants in the heat of battle. But when it comes to having a drink you need to be protected from yourself? WTH is wrong with this picture??
The overall attitude of Okies regarding alcohol consumption baffles me. Alcohol is a drug, though we all want those dirty drug dealers locked away for life. In this respect, bartenders and liquor store employees are nothing more than legal drug dealers. I do not advocate a return to Prohibition, though I do not promote the soft enforcement of laws regarding alcohol. I don't think its common knowledge that, for instance, juvenile probation officers' UA tests do NOT test for alcohol, so, theoretically, a kid can be literally bouncing off the walls and pass their UA. Along that line, many parents here, though they may have a strong stance against drugs, seem to think its no big deal if their kids regularly get smashed. This bill may be moving in the right direction, as it targets the parents, and it is the parents who teach their children how to behave(hopefully). Of course, if the parents themselves are drunks and druggies, nothing anyone can do will have much af an effect.
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Leave a comment. Log in below or sign up (it's free).Editor's note: It is not our intent to offer comments on crime or fatality stories.
Speaker Benge this is not big business talking so it may not get your attention but get off your duff and and do real stuff.