Ask your legislators to oppose S.B. 456, legislation that would unwisely expand "drug free school zones"

A bill has been introduced in the Illinois Legislature that would expand "drug-free school zones" to include areas within 1,000 feet of a school bus stop. S.B. 456 was introduced by Sen. Donne E. Trotter (D - Springfield) and has been referred to the Senate Rules Committee.

This bill is unwise and unnecessary. It is intended to deter open-air drug dealing, but the majority of land within most cities falls within 1,000 feet of a school or a school bus stop. As a result, this overly broad legislation would subject adults who live three blocks from a school bus stop to increased sentences on the arbitrary basis of where they live. This is unfair.

Please Take Action to send a pre-written letter to your state representative and senator. After you choose your favorite pre-written letter and type in your address, our site will automatically determine who your state legislators are and e-mail your letter to them . . . all with the click of a few buttons. The whole process takes less than two minutes but makes a world of difference. In addition, please take a look at the bills, which are posted on MPP's Illinois Bills Pending page.

Only you can let the Illinois Legislature know that the state should not waste limited resources targeting nonviolent marijuana offenders when Illinois' budget deficit is out of control. Instead of expanding laws that ensnare otherwise law-abiding people, we should be devoted to protecting society from violent crime.