Candelora Fights Bill to Reduce Drug-Free Zones

Hartford- This week the State House of Representatives considered a measure that will reduce the size of “drug-free zones” near schools, day care centers and public housing projects from 1,500 feet to 300 feet. Supporters of the controversial bill argue that the current law is unfair to cities because, with a higher concentration of schools and daycares and public housing projects, a large percentage of a given city is encompassed in a drug-free zone. But State Representative Vincent Candelora said the only people the change in the law will benefit are drug-dealers and users who can now perform illicit activities closer to schools without facing increased penalties. “Our schools are much more than academic institutions nowadays. Children play sports and partake in activities after school and into the evening. Our policies must maintain these stricter penalties to protect our children, not the drug dealers,” said Candelora who is the Deputy Republican Leader in the House of Representatives. “There is a very simple way to avoid the stricter penalties that apply to drug-free school zones- and that’s to avoid using or dealing illegal drugs. We must assure that our children are shielded from this activity and any temptation to partake in illicit drug use.” Candelora said he is particularly concerned about students taking part in after school activities and students that walk to and from school as. Under the bill, the drug-free zone would only be the length of a football field and many students could easily find themselves outside that perimeter. “In the last couple of sessions this legislature has given early release credits to violent felons, reduced some marijuana penalties to an infraction and now we are attempting to reduce the drug-free zones. This is the wrong message,” added Candelora. After extensive debate, the bill stalled in the House after Democrats used a procedural move to table the bill for consideration at a later date; but, not before 78 Democrats voted in favor of the language to amend the bill. The bill, as amended, can return for debate in the House at any time before sine die at midnight on June 5^th.