Congress shouldn’t be allowed within 1,000 feet of children

As everyone know, needle exchange programs work. They dramatically reduce disease and don’t increase drug abuse. That hasn’t stopped the neanderthal sado-moralists in Congress from reflexively opposing such programs.

Progress was made last year, when Congress allowed the district to fund needle exchange with their own money. Then, this year, it appeared that the ban on federal funding for needle exchange was finally to be lifted.

Except…

Jack Kingston (R-Georgia) inserted an amendment prohibiting the programs from operating (whether funded by federal or district money) “within 1,000 feet of a school, library, park, college, video arcade or any place where children might be present.”

Now remember, 1,000 feet is the length of 3 football fields. Can you name a single place in the District of Columbia that isn’t within three football fields of a place where children might be present?

The only hope is that a copycat amendment won’t be added to the Senate bill and the Kingston amendment can be erased in conference.

The Washington Post has a strong editorial today:
Blunted needles: Congress is set to stick it to clean-syringe programs.

The Harm Reduction Coalition has an action alert for writing to your Senators.