Both houses of our state legislature have finally voted, with veto-proof majorities, for the legalization of over-the-counter sales of hypodermic needles in the state.
Delaware and New Jersey are the only other states where needles are so restricted.
Our governor is planning to cast a symbolic “Yes to Hepatitis!” veto, and the Globe quotes our lieutenant governor and gubernatorial candidate, Kerry Healey, as supporting this decision:
“Imagine your children not only coming upon dirty needles in the park, but standing next to a drug addict in the checkout line of CVS who is there to buy more needles,” said Healey, over the chorus of advocates standing nearby chanting, “Clean needles save lives” and “We need to make sure that this bill goes no further.”
Yes, apparently in states where needles are legal, the kids might as well be pincushions for all the dirty needles that stab them every day.
Here are some photos of my native West Virginia, where needles are legal. You can see the syringes piled up like haystacks, littering the landscape:
And ever since NY legalized needles the streets of Manhattan have become impassible by ordinary means. The taxicabs are now outfitted with special cowcatcher-like devices to push a path through the crust of needles.
(Every other gubernatorial candidate, regardless of party, supports the over-the-counter sale of needles.)
It’s really amazing how bull-headed politicians can be in promoting terrible policies while standing on moronic morality high-horses.