DaVe Posted April 11 Report Share Posted April 11 Received by Clubplanet:-----------------------------------------------------------------------------Dear Members, Subscribers and Friends, I do not normally use our alert channel to send a personal message. However, I wanted to let you know that the Illicit Drug Anti- Proliferation Act (also called the "RAVE Act"), which was attached to the AMBER Alert bill, passed both the House and Senate late yesterday (April 10). The RAVE Act threatens free speech and musical expression while placing at risk any hotel/motel owner, concert promoter, event organizer, nightclub owner or arena/stadium owner for the drug violations of 3rd parties - real or alleged - even if the event promoter and/or property owner made a good-faith effort to keep their event drug-free. It applies not just to electronic-music parties, but to any type of public gathering, including theatrical productions, rock concerts, DJ nights at local bars, and potentially even political rallies. It gives heightened powers and discretion to prosecutors, who may use it to target events they personally don't like - such as Hip-Hop events and gay and lesbian fundraisers. Sadly, the RAVE Act was added to the AMBER Alert bill conference report at the very last minute by Senator Biden (D-DE), its original sponsor. The AMBER Alert bill creates a system for responding to child abduction. It has nothing to do with drug policy. The RAVE Act had not passed even a single committee in the House or Senate this year. One senator's pet issue made a mockery of the Democratic process - becoming law without any public hearing or opportunity for input whatsoever.You should be aware that your letters and faxes clearly had an effect. (FYI - you sent Congress 13,000 faxes this week alone!!) For example, the word "rave" was removed from the version of the bill that passed. Eliminating such blatant discrimination is a victory for our continued freedom of speech. Also, the original bill suggested that prosecutors should view the sale of water and the presence of glowsticks or massage oil as evidence of drug use. These ludicrous "findings" were completely removed thanks to you. President Bush will sign this child abduction bill, which means the RAVE Act will become law as well. We will be working with the legislators who opposed this provision - such as Senators Durbin, Kennedy and Leahy and Representatives Conyers and Scott - for its repeal. In the meantime, however, it is up to all of us to be the watchdogs of its enforcement. Attorney General John Ashcroft will have to make decisions about its enforcement priority among the many public safety issues the Department of Justice handles. He must be held responsible when he implements this scheme. We want him to know that he is not free to shut down our dance clubs, our festivals and our freedoms. We will be watching the activities of law enforcement and prosecutors, and we will act when our rights are violated. You can help us by faxing Attorney General Ashcroft here. http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/action/index.asp?step=2&item=1581We thank our many partners in this effort for your hard work: EM:DEF, ROAR, Buzzlife Productions, Davey D., electronic dance and music organizations throughout the U.S., club owners, hotel organizations, beverage and licensing groups, the ACLU and many, many others. But most of all, I want to say thank you personally to our members and supporters. You truly deserve credit for reacting so quickly and so forcefully. It has really been amazing. When Bill McColl, our Director of National Affairs, told me about this issue last June he said that he thought the RAVE Act would pass in about 2 weeks. You proved us wrong. It took 10 months, a change in control of the Senate, backroom maneuverings and substantial changes to the bill. I'm proud of the hard work of our members, friends and our coalition. Rest assured we will continue to work together to mobilize opposition and advocate to fix this dangerous law. Sincerely, Ethan NadelmannExecutive DirectorDrug Policy Alliance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
georgeacasta2 Posted April 11 Report Share Posted April 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vipnerd Posted April 11 Report Share Posted April 11 This is soooo sad ... I just hope all of us who care about music will keep on sending their faxes and expressing our opinion ... and being a little bit more active in our political environment ... For example ... copy paste Dave's post and e-mail to friends ... it takes all of us who care to take action ..."Union makes strength" ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fliptoniaaa Posted April 11 Report Share Posted April 11 I HATE REPUBLICANS..........and u guys support this asshole, and everhything he says just cuz hes fighting a so called "war"....i hope people wake up and start realizing this is not a free country,the only freedom we have is the freedom for big brother to watch whatever we do and tell us what we can and cant do.....vote republican if ur an asshole......not that the dems r any better but at least bubba clinton put a joint in his mouth. which at least makes em more open minded to our struggle!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tranzwhore Posted April 11 Report Share Posted April 11 This happens so often with high profile bills. No one notices the lil' ole Rave Act piggy-backing the high profile Amber Alert. Mother fucking, slick ass politicians playing games with our rights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shroomy Posted April 11 Report Share Posted April 11 Originally posted by fliptoniaaa at least bubba clinton put a joint in his mouth. which at least makes em more open minded to our struggle!!!!!!!! Damn Bush was the biggest coke head that Harvard had seen, and with the $$$ they see there, that is saying a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sobeton Posted April 11 Report Share Posted April 11 The provision will be as ineffective as the "federal crack-house law". I guarantee the first time its used, it will wind up in front of the Supreme Court. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pod Posted April 12 Report Share Posted April 12 Time for some impeachment. Off with his head! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest saleen351 Posted April 12 Report Share Posted April 12 its utter bullshit. Not that it passed but it won't make any impact...If it applies to concerts, why don't the metalicas and rolling stones of the world speak up? Nothing at the grammys? HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMwhy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
detbasshead Posted April 12 Report Share Posted April 12 Originally posted by fliptoniaaa I HATE REPUBLICANS It was re-introduced by a democrat, and sadly was non-partison and more of a generation/cultural gap. It is sad and I will continue to voice my discontent and I am not re-electing a single one of those asses be republican, democrat, or independent. But have to wait and see its effectivness and how much it is used.DBH:hat2: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sobeton Posted April 12 Report Share Posted April 12 If President Bush signs this bill he is an idiot. He needs to send this back to the House and Senate, and let them debate the provision.. Signing this bill will make any attempt to turn it over, seem as though it is an attack against the foundation of the bill itself. Which minus the provision is a very important piece of legislation. Senator Biden makes me embarrassed to be a democrat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fliptoniaaa Posted April 12 Report Share Posted April 12 i still hate republicansand thats whats wrong with dems today they have no backbone. especially since all this war stuff started, there is no clear democratic voice just a bunch of pussys....and as for crack head bush....he did it but now hes trying to act all rightous like he had never done it...at least blow job clinton...said hey i put it to my mouth just didnt inhale, but hey i kinda tried it...he doesnt dismiss it, and thats another thing u gotta give it to some1 who has the balls to get his balls licked in the oval office....thats my idol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funketeer Posted April 13 Report Share Posted April 13 This is very bad news, things are obviously much worst than what a lot of us thought they were...I'm going to get serious for a moment and honestly express my opinion about this, because this is bullshit and not just small bullshit...this is SOME BIG BULLSHIT! I tend to try and understand what goes on today by going back in history to match today's events to those of a time long gone and I find more answers in songs rather than in books.For example, today...this situation is as serious as it appears to be...just imagine how different it would be to live in a "gestapo-like" infested South Beach, not knowing when a police raid was going to take event and your ass would go to jail because you were talking to someone who had been seen near some other guy who had drugs...it's not only about who carries it...no, no, no, no...you are under authomatic fault by being at a place were it is known that drugs are being used, consider that and don't think otherwise...this is like a military mathematical formula for taking control over an area which is vast and very prophitable...jobs would be lost, places would close...it's simple, if you kill the vibe of south beach, ultimately you'll kill the businesses and jobs our town produces and generates. As I see it, this means action must be taken inmediately to try to stop this country from becoming what we are supposed to be protecting here, which is freedom...of speech...of association...who the fuck cares freedom of what we want to have...you know what??? If this goes through...I pedict dramatic changes in the way we see things run around here...I don't mean to be pesimistic...this situation is very real and very freaky. Like I said before, I react to things musicly and this next song I picked for you guys to check out...is by this new guy Bob Dylan, I heard he's going to be huge...personaly, I think he's up to something, enjoy. read it and you'll see what I mean..Come gather 'round peopleWherever you roamAnd admit that the watersAround you have grownAnd accept it that soonYou'll be drenched to the bone.If your time to youIs worth savin'Then you better start swimmin'Or you'll sink like a stoneFor the times they are a-changin'.Come writers and criticsWho prophesize with your penAnd keep your eyes wideThe chance won't come againAnd don't speak too soonFor the wheel's still in spinAnd there's no tellin' whoThat it's namin'.For the loser nowWill be later to winFor the times they are a-changin'.Come senators, congressmenPlease heed the callDon't stand in the doorwayDon't block up the hallFor he that gets hurtWill be he who has stalledThere's a battle outsideAnd it is ragin'.It'll soon shake your windowsAnd rattle your wallsFor the times they are a-changin'.Come mothers and fathersThroughout the landAnd don't criticizeWhat you can't understandYour sons and your daughtersAre beyond your commandYour old road isRapidly agin'.Please get out of the new oneIf you can't lend your handFor the times they are a-changin'.The line it is drawnThe curse it is castThe slow one nowWill later be fastAs the present nowWill later be pastThe order isRapidly fadin'.And the first one nowWill later be lastFor the times they are a-changin'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fliptoniaaa Posted April 13 Report Share Posted April 13 very well put funketeer....like were not losing enough jobs through this administration.... lets take away a whole industry of jobs, that must had been the light bulbs that popped in there heads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southof5th Posted April 13 Report Share Posted April 13 Bill or no bill, I believe it's up to the local governments how they want to enforce and push it.New York has been hard as nails on establishments even before this bill, because of Gulliani and Bloomberg.Miami has been lax, but we also don't have a 'rave' mentality at clubs. I mean, Exit and SF in New York are like crack houses. Space is the only real afterhours in Miami, and people seem decently well behaved even in the late morning hours Let's just not give them any reason to strart cracking down. Be safe, don't do too much. Behave normal, and enjoy yourselfs.If things stay the way they are in Miami, I'll be happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sobeton Posted April 13 Report Share Posted April 13 if this bill becomes law. it would become federal law. in which case enforcement ,would be the responsibility of the federal attorney general. thus taking it out of the hands of state. this is bill undermines peoples rights, and is extremely ambiguous. leaving its interpretation in the hands of the courts. which is why I mentioned previously, that the first time it is applied; it will wind up in Supreme Court. further this bill will cause promoters, clubs, and any one affected by it. to now have to worry if they will be targeted. this term " exercise reasonable care" will be a focal point, and eventually will have to be defined by the courts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimid Posted April 14 Report Share Posted April 14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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