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Ellis Dee
Archangel



Registered: 06/29/01
Posts: 13,104
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Maine gov threatens to call in National Guard to fight heroin epidemic
#22493940 - 11/08/15 01:33 AM (8 years, 2 months ago) |
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http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/11/07/maine-gov-threatens-to-call-in-national-guard-to-fight-heroin-epidemic/
Maine gov threatens to call in National Guard to fight heroin epidemic Published November 07, 2015Associated Press
 FILE - In this Feb. 3, 2015 file photo, Gov. Paul LePage delivers his State of the State address to the Legislature at the Statehouse in Augusta, Maine. (AP)
PORTLAND, Maine – Maine's governor is threatening to call up the National Guard to fight an epidemic of heroin and other drugs if lawmakers don't hire more agents.
Gov. Paul LePage made a surprise appearance in the Legislature on Thursday, telling panelists on the Appropriations Committee that there's a "dire need" for a more robust response. He first discussed a potential role for the National Guard over the summer in a radio interview but he hasn't said how personnel might be used.
"You either work with me and give me some agents, or I will call the Guard up," he said.
Lawmakers approved funding last session for six additional state drug agents, two judges and two drug prosecutors to handle major drug crimes. But LePage said that's not enough.
Maine House Speaker Mark Eves, a Democrat and an adversary of the Republican governor, said he'd be open to calling a special session "but we won't come back to have a partisan fight or waste taxpayer dollars."
Like the rest of New England, Maine is dealing with an epidemic of addiction and deaths associated with heroin, fentanyl and other opioids. Last year, a record 208 people died in Maine from drug overdoses, and 8 percent of babies born last year had mothers who used drugs, officials said.
Federal law limits how military personnel can be used to enforce domestic laws.
But John Goheen from the National Guard Association of the United States said Guard personnel can be used for law enforcement when a governor calls them into duty for the state. It's not uncommon for guard personnel to augment local and state law enforcement agencies with special equipment and capabilities, he said.
"Counter-narcotics is a fairly specific type of law enforcement. Theoretically, (National Guard personnel) could be used to backfill and provide some equipment," Goheen said Friday.
In the past, Maine Army National Guard helicopters were used as spotters seeking marijuana-growing operations. Several National Guard personnel currently assist in analyzing data in the state intelligence center. To the south, the Texas governor stationed National Guard troops on the border with Mexico.
LePage told lawmakers that the National Guard would assist the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency but didn't provide any specifics about how they would do so.
A Maine National Guard spokesman referred questions Friday to the governor's office, which had no further comment.
-------------------- "If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do."-King Solomon And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
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vandago



Registered: 07/07/04
Posts: 20,917
Loc: .
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Re: Maine gov threatens to call in National Guard to fight heroin epidemic [Re: Ellis Dee] 2
#22494187 - 11/08/15 03:20 AM (8 years, 2 months ago) |
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The question I have......will the national guard stop the feds informants and the feds themselves from selling drugs?
This is interesting. Calling in special forces to deal with an agency who is corrupt. This governor may be on to something.
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highasfuk


Registered: 06/01/15
Posts: 349
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Re: Maine gov threatens to call in National Guard to fight heroin epidemic [Re: vandago] 2
#22495023 - 11/08/15 10:15 AM (8 years, 2 months ago) |
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What exactly do they think the national guard or any other police force is going to do to cause people not to want to buy and use heroin? Maybe it's time for a new approach
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Learyfan
It's the psychedelic movement!



Registered: 04/20/01
Posts: 34,086
Loc: High pride!
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Re: Maine gov threatens to call in National Guard to fight heroin epidemic [Re: Ellis Dee] 1
#22495131 - 11/08/15 10:51 AM (8 years, 2 months ago) |
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National Guard. Why stop there though. Why not the Marines? Fuck it, I know what will work. Nuclear weapons!
-------------------- -------------------------------- Mp3 of the month: The Apple-Glass Cyndrome - Someday
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QT3BFLEE
ส้


Registered: 02/17/13
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Re: Maine gov threatens to call in National Guard to fight heroin epidemic [Re: Learyfan]
#22495250 - 11/08/15 11:22 AM (8 years, 2 months ago) |
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I love me a political ultimatums. Give me more money to spend on shit we don't need or I'm going to spend YOUR money, regardless, and in a more expensive fashion.
-------------------- My Public Key
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Toadstool5
A Registered Mycophile



Registered: 01/22/15
Posts: 1,359
Loc: The Golden State
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Re: Maine gov threatens to call in National Guard to fight heroin epidemic [Re: Ellis Dee] 1
#22495281 - 11/08/15 11:31 AM (8 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
Federal law limits how military personnel can be used to enforce domestic laws.
-------------------- If you do not know where the mushroom products you are consuming are grown, think twice before eating them. - Paul Stamets AMU Teks Stro's Write Ups
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Hygrocybe
Walkin Wonderland



Registered: 06/06/09
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Re: Maine gov threatens to call in National Guard to fight heroin epidemic [Re: Toadstool5] 1
#22497060 - 11/08/15 05:59 PM (8 years, 2 months ago) |
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Wow such Republican, very reelectable.
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