A Plan to Imprison U.S. Drug Users Overseas

From Ralph Davenport Jr., the South Carolina lawmaker who wants jailtime for vendors of sex toys, comes a brand new proposal that's even more awe-inspiring: Send drug users overseas to be imprisoned there.

Section 24-3-20(A) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 406 of 1996, is further amended by adding at the end: "Notwithstanding another provision of law, the department may enter into agreements with foreign countries for the confinement of inmates convicted of drug related offenses or offenses related to the sexual abuse of children."

So drug users are essentially the same as child molesters, Davenport argues — and it's OK to send either of them (but not murderers or regular rapists) to countries with horrendous human rights records, to be dealt with as their new masters please.

Truth be told, I can't get too worked up about it, as it's neither a remotely sane nor a constitutional proposal. Davenport is just playing to his ultra-conservative base in the most craven and transparent fashion, and there's no way the amendment will withstand the scrutiny of the courts. Nonetheless, there's a dazzling level of shamelessness here, noteworthy because it sets a new record even among dumb-ass law-and-order legislators.

[Thanks, Boing Boing]

Comments

[Martin Owens]

Don't be too sure it won't pass!
Prohibition, too, was absurd on the face of it...

[GreginOz]

Druggies the same as child molesters? Say it isn't so! I gave up child molestation ages ago...you have to go to bed too early...
Q) When is it time to go to bed in the Micheal Jackson house?
A) When the big hand touches the little hand! Brrrrrr.