Congress is considering two pieces of legislation that could
effectively ban live music and dancing, while throwing innocent
people like you in jail. 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. 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). Both
could be passed this year without your help. (Links to the Acts text
provided below.)
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. Similarly, the CLEAN-UP Act contains provisions that would
make it a federal crime - punishable by up to nine years in prison -
to promote "any rave, dance, music or other entertainment event" that
might attract some attendees that would use or sell drugs. In both
cases, it doesn't matter if the concert 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 either the CLEAN-UP Act or the RAVE Act becomes law, Congress
could effectively ban live music and dancing, as well as any other
event that might attract someone that would use drugs (essentially
any event that draws a large crowd). Your help is needed to stop
these bills from becoming law!!! Dancing, singing, and playing music
should not be a federal crime!
ACTIONS TO TAKE
*** Fax your Representative. Tell him or her to oppose the RAVE Act
in its entirety and to oppose Section 305 in the CLEAN-UP Act. You
can fax your Representative for free by going to
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/action/index.asp?step=2&item=1516 ** Please forward this action alert to your friends and family.
Unless Congress hears from thousands of voters these two bills could
easily become law.
BACKGROUND
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, both the House RAVE Act and the Senate Anti-Proliferation
Act would make it easier for federal prosecutors to fine and imprison
business owners that fail to stop drug offenses from occurring.
Businessmen and women could be prosecuted even if they were not
involved in drugs - and even if they took steps to stop drug use on
their property. Although proponents of the bill are seeking to target
raves (and DJs, nightclub owners, and rave promoters have the most to
fear), the law would apply to any business owner, including bar
owners, motel owners, concert promoters, and cruise ship owners.
Because of its broad language, the proposed law would even
potentially subject people to twenty years in federal prison if one
or more of their guests smoked marijuana at their party or barbecue.
For more information on the RAVE Act and Drug Policy Alliance's
campaign to stop it, see:
http://www.nomoredrugwar.org/music/rave_act.htm.
A full text of the bill can be viewed at:
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi? dbname=108_cong_bills&docid=f:h718ih.txt.pdf
(Please cut and paste the entire URL into a browser window)
The CLEAN-UP Act was also first introduced last year, but it failed
to make it out of committee. This year's bill already 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 laboratories. 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.'
Under the provision, any concert promoter, nightclub owner and arena
or stadium owner could be fined and jailed, since a reasonable person
would know some people use drugs at musical events. A full text of
the bill can be viewed at:
<
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi? dbname=108_cong_bills&docid=f:h834ih.txt.pdf >
Opponents of the bills fear that both proposed laws would be used by
racist or homophobic prosecutors to target Hip Hop and R&B concerts
and gay and lesbian nightclubs. Both bills would also eradicate
electronic dance music and culture, as we know it.
Fax your Representative. Tell him or her to oppose the RAVE Act in
its entirety and to oppose Section 305 in the CLEAN-UP Act. You can
fax your Representative for free by going to:
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/action/index.asp?step=2&item=1516.