Some fentanyl-related deaths could soon carry a felony murder charge under a proposed new law in Arizona.
The bill passed the Senate 18-10-2 on Thursday, with Democratic Sens. Christine Marsh and Catherine Miranda voting in favor of the legislation
Earlier in February, Center Square reported that Senate Bill 1344 would charge people with first-degree murder if someone played a role in providing the dose of fentanyl.
“Classifies, as first-degree murder, causing the death of any person during the course of and in furtherance of the offense or immediate flight from an offense involving the possession for sale, manufacture or transportation of fentanyl,” the fact sheet states.
The charge could entail life in prison, or even the death penalty.
“Too many of our children are dying at the hands of cartels smuggling fentanyl across our border.”
“The issue is continuously getting worse, and we must establish harsher penalties for criminals who bring this dangerous and deadly drug into our communities,” Kern told The Center Square in a statement.
However, Democrats are not convince of the law’s effectiveness, with some citing the “War on Drugs.”
“It does not reduce the supply or demand of drugs,” Senate Minority Leader Mitzi Epstein said before voting no.
Meanwhile, Marsh said she reluctantly voted yes.
“We cannot criminalize our way out of this crisis,” Marsh said on the floor, adding she was “okay with that sentence going higher.”
Some Republicans said that tightening the belt could help with the crisis.
“This narrative that drug enforcement doesn’t do anything is just false,” Sen. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, said.
Just The News noted:
“The vote was one of several dozens at the legislature this week, as many Senate and House bills were making their way out of their respective chambers to be transmitted to the other. If a bill passes both chambers, it will wind up on Hobbs’ desk, where she’ll ultimately decide whether or not it becomes law.”
The news comes after Rep. Mark Green, R-Tenn., chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee,, warned about large amounts of fentanyl coming into the U.S.
The Daily Fetched reported:
More than 27 pounds of fentanyl was intercepted at the border in fiscal year 2023, CBP statistics revealed.
“And then the fentanyl; that little baby that was crawling around on a floor in a VRBO in Florida died because the previous tenant had left fentanyl,” he said.
“There isn’t an American who is safe right now because of this open border and the failure of this secretary,” Green added.
The invasion of fentanyl into this country is a Chinese communist plot to poison Americans.
— Senator Ron Johnson (@SenRonJohnson) February 17, 2024
Military age men from China and all over the world are flooding into America through the Democrats’ open border.
It is a clear and present danger that Biden has the authority to address… pic.twitter.com/OqSSipVOQn
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