{"article":{"id":33102,"heading":"Oppose the RAVE Act - Keep Our Nightclubs & Music Festivals Open!","author":"source0","created":"2003-03-05 18:01:27","modified":"2003-03-05 18:01:27","last_modified":"Thu, 06 Mar 2003 01:01:27","article":"

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<\/a>

** 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>.

A full text of the bill can be viewed at:

http:\/\/frwebgate.access.gpo.gov\/cgi-bin\/getdoc.cgi?<\/a>

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?<\/a>

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<\/a>.

<\/p>\n","contact":"","link":"","address":"","phone":"","parent_id":0,"mime_type":"text\/plain","summary":"POLICE ACTING UNDER DRACONIAN ANTI-DRUG POLICIES HAVE CLOSED AND RAIDED LEGITIMATE NIGHTCLUBS AND MUSIC FESTIVALS (The Trocadero in SF; Spundae in LA; JuJuBeats; How Sweet; etc) - CONGRESS WANTS TO TAKE IT ONE STEP FURTHER AND PROSECUTE NIGHTCLUBS AND RAVES UNDER CRACK-HOUSE LAWS.\r\n\r\nIT COULD HAPPEN THIS YEAR; WE NEED YOUR HELP\r\n\r\nSweeping Crackdowns on clubgoers and businesses are NOT the way to fight drug abuse; support Harm Reduction and Drug Education Services instead!","numcomment":0,"fileurl":"\/uploads\/","filesize":null,"article_url":"\/news\/2003\/03\/33102.php"},"attachments":[],"comments":[]}