(FRANKFORT, Ky.) – The Bluegrass Institute will join law-enforcement officials, technology experts and state policymakers at a press conference in the Capitol Rotunda today at 1 p.m. announcing a new approach that targets criminals who traffic in the dangerous drug methamphetamine while protecting the liberties of law-abiding citizens.

Instead of denying law-abiding Kentuckians the right to purchase products containing pseudoephedrine without a prescription – as some politicians propose – the institute supports expanding the use of technology to deny individuals previously convicted of a crime involving methamphetamine from purchasing products containing pseudoephedrine without a prescription.

Pseudoephedrine is a necessary ingredient for the manufacture of methamphetamine.

“Claiming that pseudoephedrine is misused by a handful of criminals is not a reason for denying all law-abiding Kentuckians access to their preferred cold and allergy products,” said Jim Waters, the institute’s vice president of communications, in prepared comments for today’s event. “Such claims make great emotional stories for pandering politicians, but they are not good enough reasons for the further eroding our liberties.”

Rep. Brent Yonts, D-Greenville, announced the prefiling of BR 396, which would create the Meth Offender Block Registry. Joining Yonts at today’s event in support of his proposal will be Rep. Julie Raque Adams, R-Louisville; Maj. Tony King, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department; Lori Blakely, director of the Pennyrile Narcotics Task Force; and Jim Acquisto, Appriss, a technology company that assists law-enforcement agencies nationwide.

For interview information, please contact Jim Waters at 270-782-2140 or jwaters@freedomkentucky.com.