JARRETT GOODMAN
Staff Writer
Bob Freeman, a Democratic state lawmaker for Tennessee, has recently began work on drafting a new bill that aims to make spiking an individual’s drink a state felony.
Freeman is aiming to have state legislation address the issue by having a state code be amended in order to ensure the act is considered a felony under the law. While drink spiking is already recognized as a criminal offense, Freeman’s goal is to ensure a felony status under Tennessee code, regardless if whether other criminal acts are committed after someone’s drink was spiked.
Drink spiking is the act of placing illicit substances or medications into someone’s drink without given consent. Drink spiking has become an increasingly growing issues within Tennessee, particuarlily in major cities such as Nashville and Chattanooga. Earlier in August, Chattanooga and UTC (University of Chattanooga) police responded to several reports involving drink spiking, while tourists and musicians travelling to Nashville have reported becoming victims of drink spiking while at a venue or bar. Various cases have also been linked to sexual assault, Nashville’s Sexual Assault Center reporting that one in five incidents of sexual assault shares a connection to drugs.
President of the Sexual Assault Center Rachel Freeman publicly stated that the Center itself, alongside Rep. Freeman, want to ensure that if no other criminal act is committed, drink spiking is still considered an assault regardless. Rep. Freeman also publicly stated that for Tennessee to continue being a popular destination for tourism, the safety of residents and tourists alike must be prioritized in order to ensure further development in the state’s ever growing popularity for tourists.
Photo from baranddrink.com