No matter the year, whether it be in the months prior to a presidential election or the year after midterm election, the youth in America are always counted out as being apathetic and uninvolved to the political process.
Well, that stereotype was just not true this past Thursday, February 19th, as over 100 ASU students came to the Senate to show their support of coming legislation. The bill, SB 1190, is sponsored by Senator Kelli Ward of Lake Havasu, but was spearheaded by former ASU student, Devon Mills. Commonly referred to as 'Medical Amnesty', the bill would grant protection to intoxicated minors and would give them access to medical help in case of an emergency without fear of citation or arrest. The meeting was held in Senate room 109, which is the smallest of the Senate hearing rooms, even though it was known that that day would see a surplus of visitors. Whether intentional or not, the image of concerned college students literally overflowing the Senate was quite a sight, and I believe carried some weight when the Senators in the Judiciary committee chose to cast and explain their votes.
I definitely agree with and support the medical amnesty bill, but just as Senator Bob Worsley stated in committee, I too am concerned with the potential message that this sends to college students who can possibly abuse this law and causing confrontation with law enforcement.
I just hope my fellow ASU students realize that even though that there was a great success that day as this bill passed out of committee, there is still a long road ahead before it becomes a law.
Somehow, this bill wasn't on my radar. Part of what I do in my internship is track and study bills in the Arizona legislature. This isn't a topic of interest to either organization I intern for, but I appreciate your blogging about it because it is of personal interest to me. While I am not a minor, I think this is important, and also support this bill.
ReplyDeleteZachary,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your blog about this SB 1190 bill. I intern right across from you and I am always very curious of why there is always so much action going on. Especially there are always tables with food outside. How interesting it is, in my opinion to be able to be part of our ever changing laws and policies. Please keep on sharing!
Wow! I cannot believe that I missed this SB 1190 bill! I think this bill is great and should be implemented. I think it would help save many lives because I know that some people are afriad to seek help for themselves or friends when they are under the influence because of being arrested. They leave themselves in harms way and others. I do see the concerns of the abuse of the law, but I do believe that this is more helpful than harmful.
ReplyDeleteI personally think that this is a very important bill. The United States gets a really bad rep from the rest of the world because of how seriously we treat everything legally. Our incarceration rates are ridiculous and it almost seems like you can go to jail for the simplest of things. This bill provides a level of protection to minors, and I don't feel like this is something that would cause more drinking for the simple fact that this is for people who need real medical help. No ones goal is to end up in the ER because of a night of drinking, and the drinking will happen anyways so why not protect them?
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this. This is very interesting stuff. I can believe the stupidity that some bills can cause. The goal is never to end up the way some of these bills make people act.
ReplyDeleteI think that this is a great bill, but also you have to understand why there is opposition to this. The whole reason people do no like this bill is that it only furthers the stereotype that ASU students or minors in general are more worried about getting drunk rather than pursuing their education. I think we as students forget why we are here sometimes. You also have to remember that an MIC is usually erased from the record by going to a class and showing up to court. I have personally gotten one and the process isn't that bad. I like that fact that I can get medical attention without being afraid of getting in trouble, but at the same time it sets a scary precedent that almost says its okay to be drunk as a minor if you are in an emergency situation. Either way you look at it you are breaking the law, and have the potential to be punished. Just my thoughts from the other side of the fence.
ReplyDeleteZach,
ReplyDeleteI completely understand your concern about individuals potentially abusing this bill that could eventually become a law. When I was reading your post, I too was concerned that a lot of people might think that this gives them a reason to disobey the legal drinking age and participate in inappropriate behavior.