Put up or shut up

[Danosaur]

FWD:

Today, President Bush signed the RAVE Act into law. Although it's a sad day for American freedom, I am also proud. I'm proud to be part of the thousands of people who, like you, came together to oppose the RAVE Act. I'm proud that your opposition made waves on Capitol Hill - waves that are seldom felt in Washington when it comes to draconian drug war bills.

With your support, we will take on Attorney General John Ashcroft and the DEA every time they use the RAVE Act to try to shut down electronic dance events, raves, rock and hip hop concerts, hemp festivals, circuit parties, and other events. We will organize
thousands of people to oppose this new government intrusion. We will launch an aggressive and relentless lobbying campaign to repeal the RAVE Act.

FWD:

It took 10 months, a change of control in the Senate, backroom policy-making, and substantial changes to the bill, and the support of non-controversial legislation like the AMBER Alert bill to get the RAVE Act passed. The AMBER Alert bill creates a system for responding to child abductions and has absolutely nothing to do with drug policy. The RAVE Act, however, was a controversial bill that had not passed a single committee in the House or Senate this year and became law without any public hearings or opportunity for input.

The RAVE Act amends the federal "crack house law" to 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 could apply to any business owner, including bar owners, motel owners, concert promoters, and cruise ship owners, as well as organizers of hemp festivals, circuit parties and other events. Because of its broad language, the law could potentially subject people to twenty years in federal prison if one or more of their guests smoked marijuana at their party or barbecue.

Give $10 dollars to help repeal the Rave Act, and take back your freedom.

https://secure.ga3.org/05/raveact

[postfeminist]

Wow. I feel safer already. Maybe this thread should be in FABO or WTF.

seething with hate for john ashcroft,
b.h.

[dcXhc]

Originally posted by postfeminist
Wow. I feel safer already. Maybe this thread should be in FABO or WTF.

seething with hate for john ashcroft,
b.h.

The Bill was sponsored by Biden, with co-sponsors Fienstein, Lieberman, grassley and Smith.

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:SN00226:@@@P

[tobedawg]

Actually it's kinda sad that this hasn't been covered by any major news stations. Where's the "Fair and Balanced" reporting of Fox News Channel when you need it?

I'm all for repealing the RAVE ACT but what's a $10 donation going to do. Go towards a hit of "E" for the organizers?

[slow-dog]

Originally posted by tobedawg

I'm all for repealing the RAVE ACT but what's a $10 donation going to do. Go towards a hit of "E" for the organizers?

No man....glowsticks and bottled water.......of course, these may now be drug-related paraphenalia, so don't let anyone catch you with them........

[BigSugar]

Originally posted by dcXhc


The Bill was sponsored by Biden, with co-sponsors Fienstein, Lieberman, grassley and Smith.

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:SN00226:@@@P

i love the fact that this was completely ignored....the left wing of the democratic party would never ever step on individual freedoms, right?

how many here have ever been to a rave?? seriously....how many have ever sponsored a rave and sold E to teenagers? just wondering how many people this really affects....

[RichmondVA]

I'm not ignoring it, but I also don't see what you're getting at.

Two Dems and two GOP. Since it was a bipartisan bill, there wasn't any use in pointing the finger at one party or another. Isn't it good that we stay out of the party politics and agree that it's a stupid bill?

Has anyone seen the CLEAN Up Meth Act? I don't think it has passed yet, so write your Congressperson if you care.

SEC. 416A. PROMOTERS OF DRUG ORIENTED ENTERTAINMENT.

Whoever 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 were the event is held, shall be fined under title 18, United States Code, or imprisoned for not more than 9 years, or both.

[BigSugar]

got it.....didn't realize it was such a broad stroke....

sorry folks....X party at my place is canceled this weekend....9 years of anal rape in federal prison is too much for me!

[Danosaur]

The $10 bucks goes to pay a lobbying group to lobby against the Rave act. But more importantly this is a critical time in politics to push back against those who want to increase the drug war until we're all in jail. I don't want to see smart drug policy go out the window at this stage. In the last ten years we have seen states pass some impressive legislation that would have created constructive drug policy in their state, but the feds have done nothing but work to stop them. The irony here is that we have a so-called Republican in office. Aren't the Republicans supposed to be for states rights? States rights are apparently fine until state legislation upsets Bush and Ashcroft's Christian sensibilities.

[Huxley]

Originally posted by BigSugar




how many here have ever been to a rave?? seriously....how many have ever sponsored a rave and sold E to teenagers? just wondering how many people this really affects....


i have, they actually have a bunch in cincy, lousiville and lexington. My friend wes is totally into the shit, though he doesn't use the glowsticks, any sort of drugs like acid, X, or whatever, and the one time he smoked pot he got caught and never tried it again. So I think that what the point is here, is people like him, who actually go for the music and dance are getting screwed. Which ever since the 80's when drugs became big in the scene they have been getting screwed. And especially lately with the stupid fucks who go just to get "X." If your there to dance and meet people raves are awesome, its like going to any other club just without the repetitive annoying pop music. Which once you crack down on raves the next thing will be clubs and concerts, so you gotta protect the small guy... the nerdy kid from high school who doesn't do drugs and spent all his free time alone in his room spinning discs.

[classicgrrl]

my brother makes part of his living doing drum and bass for raves...

[volume11]

Maybe if we start holding rave events at WalMart stores, abuse illegal drugs there, and narc ourselves out, we can put the owners of WalMart behind bars for nine years...

[tobedawg]

Maybe if we start holding rave events at WalMart stores, abuse illegal drugs there, and narc ourselves out, we can put the owners of WalMart behind bars for nine years...

You're onto something there!! Then we can go to STARBUCK's and have the After Party!!

[MonkeyGirl]

Originally posted by Danosaur
The RAVE Act amends the federal "crack house law" to 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 could apply to any business owner, including bar owners, motel owners, concert promoters, and cruise ship owners, as well as organizers of hemp festivals, circuit parties and other events. Because of its broad language, the law could potentially subject people to twenty years in federal prison if one or more of their guests smoked marijuana at their party or barbecue.

What is the point of this law anyway? It seems to shift blame from the user to the business owner. Since when is the business owner responsible for the actions of the patrons? To an extent, perhaps. But this is a stretch.
I don't know, these doesn't sound very feasible at all. I bet once the first case goes to court, this gets thrown out.

[Duemellon]

What is the point of this law anyway? To get us to watch ourselves. U'kno, encourage the property owners to be invasive into the lives and practices of their patrons, thus turning them in during suspect activities.

U'kno, kind of an extension of the TIPS program and the Patriot Act. Except this isn't about terrorism. It's still about encouraging us to be paranoid.

Darnit, I tried to spin it positively, but can't do it.

[dcXhc]

Originally posted by MonkeyGirl
What is the point of this law anyway? It seems to shift blame from the user to the business owner. Since when is the business owner responsible for the actions of the patrons? To an extent, perhaps. But this is a stretch.
I don't know, these doesn't sound very feasible at all. I bet once the first case goes to court, this gets thrown out.

The point is to hold business owners responsible for what goes on in their establishments. More specifically, it was aimed at these fly-by-night rave organizers who rent a field for the night knowing that they can charge $10 a head for the kids to have a place to get wacked and listen to techno.

One would think that there were enough existing laws to prosecute this behavior, but I guess "The RAVE Act" just sounds a lot catchier.

[Phreon]

Why bother enforcing existing laws when it's so much easier and politically active to just pass another one?

What would politicians do if they had to admit we already have enough laws?


Phreon

[blue_kitten]

Originally posted by Phreon
Why bother enforcing existing laws when it's so much easier and politically active to just pass another one?

What would politicians do if they had to admit we already have enough laws?


Phreon

This is soooo true. It's all about making themselves look productive and successful. My ex-husband threw a couple of raves here in cinci. We had several searchers to check for drugs or weapons at the door. We covered ourselves, or so we thought. The first party had about 3,000 people! With only ONE arrest, due to a fight. Yet, if somene was found in the bathroom smoking a joint, we could have gone to prison, along with the owner of the establishment under this new Rave law? What kind of crap is that. And what good is a two-tiered democratic republic really good for anyway? It's a farce, I tell you. It's so we 'feel good' like we actually have choices and our vote counts. I'm really angry right now. And politicians just wait around like sharks for some big haitous like terrorism and war to break out so they can sneak these kind of bills onto the desk of the president w/out being noticed by the public. Okay okay, I'll step off my soap box.