Shelton Make News With Crack Pipes

State Rep. Mike Shelton (D-OKC), who recently was in the news over the portrait flap in the State House, has made the news again - this time for attempting to hand out crack pipes to legislators at the Capitol.

Sources say that Shelton carried a sack of glass crack pipes into the Capitol, and tried to hand them to other legislators, while discussing legislation he is running to 'crack down' on the selling of such drug paraphernalia.

Shelton tried to hand one to State Rep. Rex Duncan (R-Sand Springs) who is running for District Attorney, in the private House lounge, but Duncan refused. Duncan told Shelton that "it's drug paraphernalia," that he would not take one, and that "it's a misdemeanor that carries up to a year in county jail just to have one in your possession." Our sources imply that Duncan felt the meeting had the air of a set-up.

Apparently, Shelton gave, or tried to give, pipes to other legislators, including House Speaker Chris Benge. One wound up on the House Floor, placed on a Republican representative's desk.

Rep. Terry Harrison (D-McAlester) was allegedly present when Shelton tried to give a pipe to Duncan. Harrison, who is also running for DA in his home district, told FOX 25 that "there's a certain amount of shock value with what Rep. Shelton did." Despite the questionable legality of the action, Harrison furthered stated that Shelton should be "commended" for bringing the issue to the attention of the legislature.

Shelton says he bought the pipes at a local convenience store. Possession of drug paraphernalia is a misdemeanor; Shelton said that he was aware of that, but doesn't believe that what he did qualifies as a criminal act.

Capitol security did not catch the crack pipes when Shelton came into the Capitol, but Shelton laughed it off when pressed by a KOKH FOX 25 interviewer. He said that he had to "make it real" for legislators, and would not hesitate to do it again.


Shelton was involved in controversy regarding official portraits on the House floor last week. Rep Lewis Moore (R-Arcadia) switched positions of President Obama's portrait and Governor Henry's portrait on the back wall of the House chamber, to which Shelton responded by taking former Republican House Speaker Lance Cargill's official portrait from the wall and placing it on the floor.

Shelton has made the rounds with the media, decrying Moore's "childish" action. Ironically, focus has been on Obama's portrait, while leaving the rest of the story, namely Cargill's portrait and Shelton's own childish actions, untold.

The Conservative View: Children and Paint Jobs

This week's Conservative View, by Adair County Commissioner Russell Turner (R-Stilwell).

The Conservative View
by Russell Turner

Children and Paint Jobs

Over the years I have observed the way children and adults care for their possessions. For the most part our responsibility of caring for our possessions is formed very early in life. I have seen children who received gifts for Christmas or their birthday; some would take care of their toys and get many hours of enjoyment while others would simply destroy theirs in a matter of moments. I have also observed adults that would buy a new car; some will care for their car and get many years of good service while others will hot rod and abuse their car and in a short period of time it will be in the local scrap yard. From personal experience it is much easier to take care of your possessions instead of tearing them up and having to buy replacements. We can understand the need to properly take care of our cars and other possessions but they pale in comparison to the need to take care of most valuable asset, our children and future generations.

Our children rely upon us adults to protect them, in my opinion anyone that would victimize a child is guilty of one of the most heinous crimes imaginable. House Bill 2965, by state Rep. Rex Duncan, would expand the penalties for child molesters, allowing repeat offenders to face life in prison without parole or the death penalty. The key words in bill are “repeat offenders”. There is no excuse for anyone harming a child even once. The emotional damage inflicted upon a child will last a lifetime; unlike a car that may become damaged a simple paint job will not fix this problem. Under Oklahoma law, a child molester can face a sentence of 25 years to life for a first offense. Duncan’s legislation will increase the penalty to include a maximum sentence of life without parole. His legislation will also allow the death penalty to be considered for those convicted of a second or subsequent offense.

Thousands of years ago Jesus Christ said, “It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he be cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.” Some would say that the penalty would seem too severe, I do not agree. I have seen people get mad enough to strangle someone for scratching their auto. Our cars and other possessions can be replaced in a short period of time, our children’s well-being cannot.

If you wish to contact Russell Turner, or want to subscribe to his email loop, email him at rdrepublican@windstream.net.