03/12/2017
In 2016, Oklahomans voted to lessen the penalties for drug crimes in our state by passing SQ 780/781. In 2017, politicians want to reverse part of that decision.
HB 1482 would once again give the District Attorney the option to charge those who are in possession of drugs with a felony so long as they are within 1000 feet of any elementary school, junior or high school, and all daycares.
This bill has already passed the Oklahoma House, and is now headed to the Senate.
Legislators are arguing that the "gist" of SQ 780 (what was printed on the ballot last November) was misleading, in that it did not explicitly inform voters that school zones would be included in the measure. Why legislators think that the gist should include clarification about a minor detail of the bill is unclear, but if there is concern that voters were misinformed, then the solution is obvious: Create a new referendum to clarify the will of the state, rather than overriding an otherwise clear mandate from the people to change our state's approach to drug law.
As it stands, if HB 1482 passes, many Oklahomans will find themselves held to a different standard than their neighbors living only one block away. One block's population will be at risk of a misdemeanor for simple possession, the other: a felony.
HB 1482 is paternalistic and flies in the face of what the majority of Oklahomans voted for. If you put an issue to the vote of the people, you don't get to undo it just because they voted differently than you wanted.
Oklahomans spoke their mind in 2016. Call or email your Senator today and tell them to respect the will of the people by voting NO on HB 1482.