House votes to allow sale of syringes

[Judi Lynn]

House votes to allow sale of syringes
Foes see state encouraging use of drugs
By Scott Helman, Globe Staff | November 15, 2005

The Massachusetts House voted yesterday to legalize over-the-counter sale of hypodermic needles to curb the spread of HIV and other blood-borne infections, potentially setting up a political showdown with Governor Mitt Romney over whether the bill will save lives or promote drug use.

The controversial measure, which would bring Massachusetts in line with 47 other states that allow syringes to be sold without a prescription, has long been championed by public health advocates, infectious disease doctors, and substance abuse specialists, who argue that it would vastly reduce incidence of AIDS, hepatitis C, and other diseases spread through the sharing of needles.

''This legislation is long overdue in this Commonwealth," Representative Peter J. Koutoujian, a Waltham Democrat and lead sponsor of the bill, said on the House floor. ''As soon as this legislation passes, it will save lives."

But it drew opposition from several-dozen other lawmakers, who said the change in state law would essentially encourage people to use drugs by making it easy for them to purchase needles at drugstores across the state.
(snip/...)

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/11/15/house_votes_to_allow_sale_of_syringes/

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Being able to buy a needle isn't going to make someone

decide "Hey, I can buy a syringe-so I'm going to become a junkie!"

[valerief]

3. Hey, I can buy an axe so I'm going to become an axe murderer!

You gotta love the logic.

[drmom]

8. Exactly...think of the comparison to the legality of guns. nmi

[raccoon]

4. Yep. I just don't understand the logic--or lack of it--

in restricting sales of syringes.

[Caution]

5. It's the same argument used against condom distribution

a very very stupid argument. It's also no different than the argument against drug legalization.

Hey look, heroin is available legally (of course anyone can get heroin at any time if they have the money for it and the will to get it anyways). I think I'll start using it!

[Vanje]

2. Syringes have always been readily available

at any rural feed store.
There they are right on the shelf near the antibiotics and the wormers.

We farmers and stockmen do our own doctoring.

Easily available clean needles hasnt turned us all into addicts yet.

[DELUSIONAL]

6. or from a farm catalog

like Omaha Vaccine.

[Sven77]

7. they want to restrict vitamins too

the government wants to control everything. forced drugging of your children in schools(New Freedom Initiative), 2/3 of foster care children on psycho drugs, forced vaccinations. rumsfeld makes millions hyping bird flu through his tamiflu connection.