REP. TALENT UNVEILS ANTI-METH PLAN

Republican gubernatorial candidate Jim Talent says Missouri needs to establish a uniform crime reporting system to secure more federal dollars to combat the state's methamphetamine problem.

Talent, a St. Louis area congressman, unveiled his "Operation End Meth" plan Monday during a visit to the Southeast Missouri Regional Crime Lab.

Talent said Missouri is one of only two states that doesn't have a uniform crime reporting system. The other is Mississippi.

Statistics collected through a uniform crime reporting system are used to determine eligibility for competitive federal grants to fight the war on meth, he said.

Missouri's lack of a uniform crime reporting system means the state potentially has missed out on millions of dollars to combat the drug problem, Talent said.

Legislation is pending in the General Assembly to establish a uniform crime reporting system.

Talent also wants to establish a methamphetamine academy to train law enforcement officers on techniques for investigating clandestine meth labs.

If elected governor, Talent said he would hold an annual governor's conference with teen-agers to discourage meth use.

Talent wants to establish seven regional teams of narcotics officers and forensic scientists to bust meth labs.

Missouri also needs a centralized cleanup task force to ensure meth lab sites are properly cleaned up so they don't pose a threat to the safety of officers, local residents or the environment, he said.

Talent said meth trafficking and manufacturing laws need to be strengthened so offenders face the same penalties as those involving crack cocaine.

He also favors tougher legislation dealing with the possession of chemicals used to manufacture methamphetamine.

Courts have ruled that individuals in possession of several of the precursor chemicals are not guilty of possession with intent to manufacture because the chemicals could be used for other purposes, Talent said.

The Republican candidate said he wants a law that would stipulate that any individual in possession of three or more precursor substances could be charged with intent to manufacture methamphetamine.

"It has been clear that these laws need to be reformed to make them enforceable so we can get meth manufacturers out of our neighborhoods," he said.

Talent also proposed a five-year additional prison sentence for people convicted of manufacturing meth in the presence of minors.

In many instances, meth is manufactured in homes where there are young children, he said.

Talent wants to make it a felony to steal anhydrous ammonia or transfer the substance into or out of Missouri in an unauthorized container, except where there is a legitimate agricultural purpose.

He also proposed block grants for community-based treatment centers to help meth addicts get off the drug.

Talent said more money needs to go to the Missouri Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse to research viable options to treat meth addiction.