May 2017 Newsletter

“Gray Death” Opioid Confirmed in Georgia

“If you put this in your body you will die, no questions asked. This is something that I want to be very clear about … it’s not a scare tactic … it’s not a shock factor. …if you put this drug into your body you will die, it will kill you.
There’s a reason why it’s been nicknamed Grey Death. It is deadly.”
– Shelby County Alabama Drug Enforcement Task Force Commander Clay Hammac

Drug Enforcement Administration spokesman Russ Baer says gray death is a combination of heroin, fentanyl and other fentanyl-class substances, such as Carfentanil, a tranquilizer for use on elephants and other large animals. Atlanta law enforcement coined the term “gray gravel heroin” in 2012. Recently, the GBI confirmed Georgia’s first gray death victim as a 24-year-old female in Brookhaven who died February 10, 2017, and described the opioid as follows:

“The gray material was found to contain a toxic cocktail of opiate drugs. The ingredients vary, but often contain heroin, fentanyl, furanyl fentanyl, and U-47700, mixed together in the same powder. The solid material has the appearance of gray concrete mixing powder, with texture variations from light/powdery to chunky/rock-like.”

Reportedly, gray death can be absorbed through the skin, is 10,000 times more potent than morphine, 100 times more powerful than fentanyl, and includes Carfentanil, the elephant tranquilizer described as “crazy dangerous” by a Colorado DEA spokesman. The GBI lab first identified it as gray death in March and, so far, has found it in about 50 different drug seizures.

Three New Laws to Fight Opioid Epidemic in Georgia

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May 6, 2016 Radio Commentary

Campus Carry Loopholes Closed by Veto

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, May 6, 2016 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

In the 40 days following the session, Governor Deal vetoed a total of 16 bills – four Senate bills and twelve House bills – and explained exactly why they should not become law.

To explain his Day 40 veto of the Campus Carry Bill, he reached back to a 2008 Supreme Court case to quote Justice Scalia, whose opinion included the most complete explanation of the Second Amendment ever contained in a Supreme Court opinion. Justice Scalia said, “Like most rights, the right secured by the Second Amendment is NOT unlimited. From Blackstone through the 19th century cases, commentators and courts routinely explained that the right was not a right to keep and carry any weapon whatsoever in any manner whatsoever and for whatever purpose … nothing in our opinion should be taken to cast doubt on … laws forbidding the carrying of firearms in sensitive places such as schools and government buildings…”

Then, Governor Deal went further back to the October 4, 1824 minutes of the Board of Visitors of the newly created University of Virginia. Present at that meeting were Thomas Jefferson and James Madison – one was principal author of the Declaration of Independence and the other, principal author of the U.S. Constitution. This is their rule concerning students and firearms, “No student shall, within the precincts of the University, introduce, keep or use any spirituous or venomous liquors, keep or use weapons or arms of any kind….” Continue reading

February 22, 2013 Radio Commentary

Gun Legislation in Georgia

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, February 22, 2013 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

Good morning, Jim.  As you know, the General Assembly convened January 14th for this year’s session.  And, as expected, one of the pressing issues is security for one of our most vulnerable populations … students and staff in schools.  No doubt, many more bills will be introduced, but H.B. 35 is already under consideration.

Representative Paul Battles introduced H.B. 35 the second day of the session and stimulated the discussion about arming at least one administrator in each school … after the person has been licensed to carry a weapon and after special training has been successfully completed.  The local board of education would pay for mandatory and recurring training.

Mr. Battles’ bill would authorize local school boards to select which administrators would be armed.  Their required training that could be designed, especially, for school personnel or they could take courses provided by the Georgia Peace Officer Standards Training Council.  When licensed and trained, gun-carrying administrators could be a line of defense in school safety zones, school buildings, at school functions, on school property, on a bus or other transportation furnished by the school.   Continue reading

January 2013 Newsletter-Legislative Action

Gun Legislation in Georgia

“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
The Constitution of the United States, Amendment II, Ratified December 15, 1791

H.B. 35, introduced January 15th by Representative Paul Battles, authorizes local boards of education to designate one or more administrators in each school to possess and carry firearms within a school safety zone or school building, at a school function, or on school property or on a bus or other transportation furnished by the school.

Designated personnel must obtain a weapons carry license and complete the basic training course for peace officers administered by the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council or a training course developed specifically for school administrators. The board of education would pay for the necessary and recurring training for the designated administrators.

ACTION: Support. Contact House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee at 404 463-3793 and ask to speak with each member. Representatives Powell, Ch., Taylor, V-Ch.; Atwood, Sec.; Cooke; Frazier; Glanton; Greene; Hightower; Hitchens; Holcomb; M. Jackson; Lumsden; Neal; Talton; and Waites.

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