As the chairman of the Sevier County Tea Party, I read a lot of in-state newspapers. I ran across your article asking a good question, and thought I’d give my two cents. Meth is certainly a problem in Tennessee. However, meth users and manufacturers account for less than 10 percent of the criminal element. Therefore, it makes no sense whatsoever to restrict the law-abiding citizen’s access to a legal substance in an effort to hinder the abuse of a drug by such a small element. And requiring a prescription does just that.Meth use cannot be curtailed by legislation. In fact, Tennessee already requires the court system to put convicted meth users in a state databank and that bank is to prevent those on the list from accessing pseudoephedrine. Yet, the latest reports show since that requirement was put into effect, less than 1 percent of convicted meth users are actually on that list. So, if current law is not being enforced, then I fail to see how adding more legislation that harms law-abiding citizens’ liberties is the right thing to do. In fact, even considering this law is an admission by the state that it is unable to enforce laws already passed.Meth must be addressed by judicial means. That means judges should impose more than minimum sentences when a suspect is convicted of manufacturing or using meth. Harsh penalties must be imposed. Only then will Tennessee see a reduction of meth use. Like my granddaddy used to say, “Ya gotta put the fear of God in ’em.”STEVE OSBORNChairmanSevier County Tea Party
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