willisJ

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SUPPORT DRUG POLICY REFORM!!! FORWARD THIS ALERT TO YOUR
FRIENDS, FAMILY AND COLLEAGUES
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*** EMERGENCY - JOE BIDEN TRYING TO SNEAK RAVE ACT INTO S151
Conference
*** CALL YOUR SENATOR NOW


Senator Joe Biden (D-DE) is at this very moment attempting to sneak
the RAVE Act into conference committee on the National AMBER Alert
Network Act of 2003 (S151). S151 is a popular bill about child
abduction and has nothing to do with drug issues. S151 has already
been passed by the Senate and House and is now in Conference. In
contrast, the RAVE Act has not passed even one single committee this
year. It did pass a committee last year, but was so controversial
two Senators withdrew their sponsorship after the vote.


This means that if the RAVE Act passes the conference committee, it
is likely to become law without ever having a hearing, a debate or a
vote. Drug Policy Alliance has been told that Senator Biden has told
other conference committee members, incorrectly, that the ACLU is no
longer in opposition to the action. He also has told conferees that
nightclub owners now support him (on the basis of one group that
switched sides). If the act makes it into the conference language it
is likely to become law. It must be stopped now.


PHONE YOUR SENATORS and Conference Committee Members (Background
information below). DO IT NOW. If you do not respond to this alert,
the controversial RAVE Act is likely to become law and it will be
much harder to fix.


ACTIONS TO TAKE:


1. The following Members of Congress are on the conference
committee. They need to hear from you IF AND ONLY IF you live in
their district. Please be polite. Just tell them that you oppose
the RAVE Act, that it is controversial and it should not be included
in the conference language of S151. Don't stay on the phone long.
Ask as many people as you can to call them.


HOUSE:
James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) - 202/225-5101
Howard Coble (R-NC) - 202/225-3065
Lamar Smith (R-TX) - 202/225-4236
Mark Green (R-WI)- 202/225-5665
Melissa Hart (R-PA)- 202/225-2565
John Conyers (D-MI) - 202/225-5126
Bobby Scott (D-VA) - - 202/225-8351


SENATE:
Orrin Hatch (R-UT) - 202/224-5251
Charles Grassley (R-IA) - 202/224-3744
Jeff Sessions (R-AL) - 202/224-4124
Lindsey Graham (R-SC) - 202/224-5972
Patrick Leahy (D-VT) - 202/224-4242
Ted Kennedy (D-MA) - 202/224-4543
Joseph Biden (D-DE) - 202/224-5042


2. Everyone in the U.S. - You have two Senators who can weigh in on
this issue with the conferees. A list of your Senators by state can
be found at
http://www.senate.gov/general/conta...nators_cfm.cfm.
Please call your Senators at the Capitol Switchboard at 202/224-3121 -
please tell them that the RAVE Act is very controversial. Senator
Biden is holding up the AMBER Act by placing controversial bill in
conference. Urge them to oppose the RAVE Act by contacting the
Senate conferees and asking them to leave it off the measure so that
there will at least be a hearing on this issue.


BACKGROUND INFORMATION


Congress is considering two pieces of legislation that could create
disincentives for club owners to have water, ambulances and
paramedics available at large dance events. The bills might also
threaten live music and dancing. If enacted, either bill could
prevent you from hearing your favorite band or DJ live. Every musical
style would be affected, including rock and roll, Hip Hop, country,
and electronic music. The proposed laws could also shut down hemp
festivals, circuit parties, and other events government officials
don't like. Both bills would allow overzealous prosecutors to send
innocent people to jail for the crimes of others.


The two bills are the RAVE Act (H.R. 718) and the CLEAN-UP Act (H.R.
834). The RAVE Act was first introduced last year in the Senate by
Senator Joe Biden (D-DE). A House version was introduced by Rep.
Lamar Smith (R-TX). Thanks to the support of thousands of voters like
you, Drug Policy Alliance and a coalition of friends and activists
around the country was able to stop both bills last year.
Unfortunately, supporters of the RAVE Act are even more determined to
pass it this year. Rep. Howard Coble (R-NC) is sponsoring a new RAVE
Act in the House. Additionally, Senator Biden has introduced a Senate
version entitled the Illicit Drugs Anti-Proliferation Act.


If enacted, the RAVE Act would make it easier for the federal
government to punish property owners for any drug offense that their
customers commit - even if they work hard to stop such offenses. If
enacted, nightclub and stadium owners would likely stop holding
events - such as rock or Hip Hop concerts - in which even one person
might use drugs.


The CLEAN-UP Act was also first introduced last year, but it failed
to make it out of committee. This year's bill has over 60 co-sponsors
and could become law without your help. Sponsored by Rep. Doug Ose (R-
CA), the Clean, Learn, Educate, Abolish, and Undermine Production
(CLEAN-UP) of Methamphetamines Act is largely an innocuous bill that
provides more money and training for the clean up of illegal
methamphetamine lab. Hidden within the bill, however, is a draconian
section that could make dancing and live music federal crimes.


Section 305 of the CLEAN-UP Act stipulates that:


`Whoever, for a commercial purpose, knowingly promotes any rave,
dance, music, or other entertainment event, that takes place under
circumstances where the promoter knows or reasonably ought to know
that a controlled substance will be used or distributed in violation
of Federal law or the law of the place where the event is held, shall
be fined under title 18, United States Code, or imprisoned for not
more than 9 years, or both.'


This provision will allow any concert promoter, event organizer,
nightclub owner and arena or stadium owner to be fined and jailed,
since a reasonable person would know some people use drugs at musical
events.


Under both the RAVE Act and the CLEAN-UP Act, it doesn't matter if
the event promoter and property owner try to prevent people from
using drugs. Nor does it matter if the vast majority of people
attending the event are law-abiding citizens that want to listen to
music not do drugs. If enacted, either bill could be used to shut
down raves, circuit parties, marijuana rallies, unpopular music
concerts, and any other event federal officials don't like.


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RoB-B

what can we do if we live in canada

TELL US

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Busta

Nothing now. It just was unanimously passed in the Senate.

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Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the number of hits we take from the bong

pointy_sticks

FUCK!

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I'm a girl!

RaverPrincess

yeah
friggin bastards went and snuck it in with the Amber Alert bill....what the jesus does an anti-drug law have to do with missing kids? NOTHING!!! I feel so totally useless as a Canadian in this situation. Fuckin sucks for sure for all you Yankees out there. Man.......politicians are asses...

__________________
Work like you don't need the money.
Love like you've never been hurt.
Dance like nobody's watching.

IvanQFrostbite

DAMN IT! I....I.... I am in pain.

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"Don't tickle it. It might devour your hand."-Sir Maurice Mandafadden, Royal Knight for Count Baron Von Heckleschmeckie DeGigglenhiemer 1,452

Busta

Ya, it was super super shady. The senator that originally came up with the RAVE act threw it on to the Amber Alert bill just 2 days before it was to be voted.

Busta

So it he can do that I think someone should slip in a legalization of marijuana on the end of some other bill

RaverPrincess

hahahaha.....
i just hope that american partiers won't just go "ah it's passed nothing i can do now"....keep writing, keep protesting, and when ever they enforce it, give em hell!! I really wish there was something I can do from up here....good luck guys! This sucks so much ass it's not even funny!!!!!

xRaVeRx

^^^ EXACTLY!! ALWAYS FIGHT BACK FOR WHAT U BELIEVE!!
THE ASS SUCKING IS AT AN ALL TIME HIGH!!

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-----{}- They call me, Ri.N.P -{}-----

RaverPrincess

Yes...yes it is.....yet more proof that american politicians ARE SNEAKY BASTARD ASSHOLES!!!!!!

pointy_sticks

I'm just going to post my comment from another board:

IvanQFrostbite

+ = *evil smile* the fun is Just getting started.

DynamicHalfDuo

Oh believe me... let them try and pull ME into court on this case.

Hell, I almost hope they do try it... that would be one hell of a battle. The parties will continue.

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Nocturnal Commissions - Hardcore with a Smile

willisJ

Anyway, this isn't the end of all the fun yet. We'll have to wait for the first court case...I'm sure that they will try to make an example of whomever the poor bastard is, but with luck the courts will be on our side. The first time that they tried to invoke the crackhouse law it was thrown out in court...of course, that's why this law was created, but there is still the chance that a judge might find it unconstitutional. Most likely the ACLU and all of the groups that worked to oppose the law will get involved in the case and work to support the defendant, so there is still hope that a strong opposition during the first trial could have some effect.

Either that or we're all screwed...

while i agree with your hope that if this ever makes it to court it would be beaten like a dead horse.... The bigger problem isn't with getting this to court.. the problem is that by the time they get you to court, they have already won.. you (the promotor) got your party shut down, prolly got peeps arrested at the party, now have people that won't want to come to your next party 'cause of all the busts at your last one, you've lost money, you're looking at jail time and a ridiculous amount of money to avoid jail (which even if you spend that ridiculous amount is no sure get out of jail free card).. I mean, in my opinion, the gov't isn't doing this to win legal battles.. they see the drug war as a war of attrition.. what promoter who throws a couple parties here or there can afford to fight this if they get shut down by it? not too many.. sure maybe the aclu or dpa would get behind it, but who knows.. and would the "scene" get behind those promoters??.. or would we all sit by and say, wow that sucks, glad I wasn't at that party?? i would hope we would take some action and do whatever we can.. but who knows.. .. anyway, just my thoughts.. hopefully they make some semblance of sense

wJ

willisJ

well at least not all the senators are complete and total scum..

Sen. Leahy's comments on the entire Bill and the amendments. Here are his specific comments on the Rave Act inclusion


http://leahy.senate.gov/press/200304/041003c.html


RAVE ACT


I am also concerned about the inclusion of the Illicit Drug Anti-Proliferation
Act in this conference report. This bill has drawn serious grass-roots
opposition, and I know that I am not alone in hearing from many constituents
about their serious and well-considered objections to it. Despite this
opposition, and even though the Senate has never held a hearing on this
bill, the conference committee agreed to include it in this hastily-assembled
package.


I know that Senator Biden has made changes to the bill since the last Congress,
beginning with its title, and I appreciate his flexibility. But these changes
do not address some of the questions that have been raised about this legislation.



The bill?s primary purpose is to expand the existing ?crack house statute,?
(21 USC 856) which makes it unlawful to knowingly open or maintain any place
for the purpose of manufacturing, distributing, or using any controlled
substance, or to make a place available to someone else for use for such
purposes or for storing a controlled substance. The bill would expand the
statute to include those who lease, rent, or use property, including temporary
occupants, and would allow for civil suits against violators.


The crack house statute has been on the books for more than 15 years, and
for most of its existence, federal prosecutors have used it solely against
property owners who have been directly involved in committing drug offenses.
The House Judiciary Committee, however, heard evidence last year that the
Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecutors are now using the ?crack
house statute? to pursue even business owners who take serious precautions
to avoid drug use at their events. Business owners have come to Congress
and told us there are only so many steps they can take to prevent any of
the thousands of people who may attend a concert or a rave from using drugs,
and they are worried about being held personally accountable for the illegal
acts of others. Those concerns may well be overstated, but they deserve
a fuller hearing.


In addition, the provision allowing civil suits dramatically increases the
potential liability of business owners. Of course, this is a good thing
when applied against those who are knowingly profiting from illegal drug
use. But we have been told that even conscientious promoters may think
twice before holding large concerts or other events where some drug use
may be inevitable despite their best efforts. I do not know enough to know
whether that claim is exaggerated, but I think we would have been well-served
by making a greater effort to find out.

candypunk

have an American idance

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kick your legs in the air!

willisJ

ROAR rally on the national mall, June 13th.. time unsure..

ProfessorBlaze

kill the dirty bastards! i will keep the raves alive! we will keep spinning till we fall out dead at the age of 108 at "get hype 44" lol

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Busta

It's nice to know that all of the work that people have done writing congressmen about this issue has been recognized.

pointy_sticks

Actually, it has been recognized. Many congresspersons have expressed concern over the fact that an unpopular bill was pushed through without debate despite being defeated previously. The thing is, the bill it was attached to is very popular and nobody wanted to vote against it just to shoot down the rave act. I personally got letters back from my senators and such explaining that they were against the rave act and believe that it should not have been pushed through in such a shady manner. Now we just have to wait and see whether those dissatisfied lawmakers take some sort of action or not.

Jilly111

Does this just effect US or Canada as well?

pointy_sticks

Just the US.

RaverPrincess

Well technically just the US, but don't think it can't happen to us here in Canada. We almost lost the right to party in Toronto a few years back but thankfully we made the changes. I think we are treading on very thin ice here too, just like in the states. And especially is these laws stick - then we may see some of our politicians up here trying to do the same thing.