Senate State Affairs Committee Moves Resolution Opposing Federal Gun Licensing, Tracking Bill

HR 45 is de facto Gun Registration Bill

JUNEAU – The Senate State Affairs committee today passed SJR 6, a resolution expressing the Alaska Legislature’s opposition to a bill introduced in Congress that would require federal licenses for firearm users in the U.S. The resolution was sponsored by Sen. Gene Therriault, R-North Pole, who said the congressional bill, HR 45, is in essence a gun registration bill that assaults the 2nd Amendment rights of Americans.

“This bill in Congress would require anyone who possesses a firearm to have a federal license to do so, and makes it a felony to fail to report transfers, loss or theft of a firearm,” Therriault said. “As we have seen so often around the world – in Germany, in England, and most recently in Australia – restricting or taking away firearms from law abiding private citizens does not reduce crime, but is followed by more crime.”

Therriault said he appreciates the quick action by the Senate State Affairs committee and the support of its chairwoman, Sen. Linda Menard, R-Wasilla.

The text of SJR 6 calls on members of Congress, and especially Alaska’s Congressional Delegation, to reject HR 45 and support firearm education programs, instead. SJR 6 has as further referral to the Senate Judiciary committee.

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Senate H&SS Committee Approves SB 52 – Adding Salvia Divinorum to List of Controlled Substances

Powerful Hallucinogenic Becoming More Popular Among Youth

JUNEAU – The Health and Social Services committee on Monday passed SB 52, a bill that would add Salvia Divinorum to the state’s list of controlled substances. Marketed as an “herbal high,” Salvia is gaining in popularity among young people, and is compared to mescaline in its hallucinogenic effects.

“The problem with continuing to allow uncontrolled access to Salvia is that the long term effects appear to be the same as other hallucinogens, such as LSD and mescaline, and that is often depression and schizophrenia,” said Sen. Gene Therriault, R-North Pole, the bill’s prime sponsor.

Therriault noted that Salvia Divinorum is a very potent naturally-occurring vision inducer. Doses of 250 micrograms (equal to 250 millionths of a gram) can have a threshold effect on the user, while a dose of one milligram will have extreme effects. As of 2006, about 1.8 million individuals 12 years of age or older have used Salvia, and approximately 750,000 used it in the past year, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, a publication of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA).

“I appreciate the interest the H&SS committee has shown in this issue, and especially the willingness of the committee chair, Sen. Bettye Davis, to hear the bill and move it on to the next committee,” said Therriault.

HB 52 was next referred to the Judiciary committee.

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