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Ganryu
Well-known member
It really floors me that they have no interest in lowering the murder rate in Minneapolis or in getting real jail time for rapists and pedos, but this is of top shelf importance. I REALLY hate things done for nothing more than political gain.
http://www.twincities.com/mld/pioneerpress/news/local/10894103.htm?1c
Posted on Mon, Feb. 14, 2005
Lawmaker targets steroid traffickers
Atkins wants extra penalties for those selling to minors
BY FREDERICK MELO
Pioneer Press
Illegal growth hormones. Testosterone injections. And anabolic steroids. Ten-year-old Tommy Atkins promises he'll never use any of these performance enhancers to give him an edge in Little League, no matter how much he'd enjoy a spotless season.
Under state legislation proposed by his father — state Rep. Joseph Atkins, D-Inver Grove Heights — criminals convicted of trafficking steroids to minors could spend up to two decades in jail.
Atkins on Sunday joined a bevy of baseball fans — the fifth- and sixth-grade Little League team he coaches — at the Groveland Park diamond in Inver Grove Heights to promote a bill that would stiffen fines and prison sentences for steroid sellers.
"Heaven knows that pro sports have struck out in their attempts to regulate steroid use," said Atkins, who expects the bill, which is co-sponsored by state Rep. Tim Wilkin, R-Eagan, to be introduced in the Legislature today. "I think it's time for a tough new set of laws to knock steroids out of the park."
Calling state statutes on steroid use woefully outdated, Atkins also proposes an update of existing law, which he maintains prohibits only 10 percent of the steroids currently available on the black market.
While the list of substances classified as illegal performance enhancers by the federal government continues to grow, the state's list reads like an abridged version. That handicaps county attorneys and other law enforcement authorities from doing their job effectively, he said.
"The real bad actors, Minnesota's basically a safe haven for them," Atkins said over pizza and crossword puzzles with his team at Carbone's Pizzeria in West St. Paul.
"I don't think we've updated in more than 10 years the statute in Minnesota. … It's unclear even what the penalties are, so as a result, we end up with weak enforcement and what I would say are pretty generous plea bargains."
The proposed legislation would include these measures:
• Penalties for steroid sellers would be increased to up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000. The state statute currently calls for up to five years in prison and a maximum fine of $10,000.
• Sentences and fines would be even tougher for sellers who traffic steroids to minors, with penalties of up to 20 years in prison and maximum fines of $250,000.
• The state would be required to keep up to date with federal listings of prohibited performance enhancers.
Wilkin said he did not foresee strong opposition to the bill but said the state's tight fiscal climate could make lengthier prison sentences a tougher sell.
"The exact amount of time for the jail time, depending upon the budget, we can scale that," Wilkin said.
While steroid use is reportedly popular among teens, its prevalence among professional athletes is also no minor issue.
In a book to be released this month, former baseball great Jose Canseco says he used steroids along with some of the most celebrated names in the sport.
The steroids problem has touched new Minnesota Twins outfielder Armando Rios, brushed last year by media allegations he bought testosterone and growth hormones from the weight trainer to San Francisco Giants standout Barry Bonds. It's also drawn the attention of national figures, from President Bush to Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, who recently threatened political action to toughen testing standards.
In January, Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig and players union chief Donald Fehr unveiled a more aggressive drug testing policy.
http://www.twincities.com/mld/pioneerpress/news/local/10894103.htm?1c
Posted on Mon, Feb. 14, 2005
Lawmaker targets steroid traffickers
Atkins wants extra penalties for those selling to minors
BY FREDERICK MELO
Pioneer Press
Illegal growth hormones. Testosterone injections. And anabolic steroids. Ten-year-old Tommy Atkins promises he'll never use any of these performance enhancers to give him an edge in Little League, no matter how much he'd enjoy a spotless season.
Under state legislation proposed by his father — state Rep. Joseph Atkins, D-Inver Grove Heights — criminals convicted of trafficking steroids to minors could spend up to two decades in jail.
Atkins on Sunday joined a bevy of baseball fans — the fifth- and sixth-grade Little League team he coaches — at the Groveland Park diamond in Inver Grove Heights to promote a bill that would stiffen fines and prison sentences for steroid sellers.
"Heaven knows that pro sports have struck out in their attempts to regulate steroid use," said Atkins, who expects the bill, which is co-sponsored by state Rep. Tim Wilkin, R-Eagan, to be introduced in the Legislature today. "I think it's time for a tough new set of laws to knock steroids out of the park."
Calling state statutes on steroid use woefully outdated, Atkins also proposes an update of existing law, which he maintains prohibits only 10 percent of the steroids currently available on the black market.
While the list of substances classified as illegal performance enhancers by the federal government continues to grow, the state's list reads like an abridged version. That handicaps county attorneys and other law enforcement authorities from doing their job effectively, he said.
"The real bad actors, Minnesota's basically a safe haven for them," Atkins said over pizza and crossword puzzles with his team at Carbone's Pizzeria in West St. Paul.
"I don't think we've updated in more than 10 years the statute in Minnesota. … It's unclear even what the penalties are, so as a result, we end up with weak enforcement and what I would say are pretty generous plea bargains."
The proposed legislation would include these measures:
• Penalties for steroid sellers would be increased to up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000. The state statute currently calls for up to five years in prison and a maximum fine of $10,000.
• Sentences and fines would be even tougher for sellers who traffic steroids to minors, with penalties of up to 20 years in prison and maximum fines of $250,000.
• The state would be required to keep up to date with federal listings of prohibited performance enhancers.
Wilkin said he did not foresee strong opposition to the bill but said the state's tight fiscal climate could make lengthier prison sentences a tougher sell.
"The exact amount of time for the jail time, depending upon the budget, we can scale that," Wilkin said.
While steroid use is reportedly popular among teens, its prevalence among professional athletes is also no minor issue.
In a book to be released this month, former baseball great Jose Canseco says he used steroids along with some of the most celebrated names in the sport.
The steroids problem has touched new Minnesota Twins outfielder Armando Rios, brushed last year by media allegations he bought testosterone and growth hormones from the weight trainer to San Francisco Giants standout Barry Bonds. It's also drawn the attention of national figures, from President Bush to Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, who recently threatened political action to toughen testing standards.
In January, Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig and players union chief Donald Fehr unveiled a more aggressive drug testing policy.
