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 any type of public gathering, including theatrical productions, rock concerts, DJ nights at local bars, and potentially even political rallies. Moreover, 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.
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. Rep. Howard Coble (R-NC) sponsored a new "RAVE" Act in the House and Senator Biden introduced a Senate version entitled the Illicit Drugs Anti-Proliferation Act.
Opposition to the "RAVE" Act continues to grow. The Drug Policy Alliance and its coalition of partners will continue to work to protect property owners and prevent the further criminalization of dance and music events, mobilize opposition and advocate fixing this dangerous law.
You can voice your concern by signing a letter to Attorney General John Ashcroft found here:
- On April 10, 2003, Congress passed important legislation widely referred to as "The Child Abduction Protection Act of 2003." President Bush is likely to sign this legislation and make it law, therefore I am writing to voice some concerns I have about Section 609.
I urge you to work with Drug Policy Alliance and other concerned groups to fix the broad provisions of Section 609. In addition, I am requesting that you recommend to President Bush that substantive changes be made that uphold the original intent of the "crackhouse statute" and to provide "safe harbor" for innocent business owners. For more information about changes that could be made to improve the provisions of Section 609, I encourage you to contact William McColl or Bill Piper with the Drug Policy Alliance in Washington, DC at 202-216-0035.
Article comments
1 - Brian Flemming
You think Bush would line-item-veto an anti-drug measure?
2 - RJ Elliott
Wasn't the Line Item Veto declared unconstitutional by the US Supreme Court?
3 - roger allen
just vote in november get rid of the worst president we have ever had and clean house in congress with a sweeping vote. stop whinning and vote for the sake of the country.
4 - roger allen
just vote in november get rid of the worst president we have ever had and clean house in congress with a sweeping vote. stop whinning and vote for the sake of the country.
5 - Rev Tokeval
Oh good Lord. This is absurd, how do these goons manage to do things like this? I severely doubt that signing a petition to Pope Aschroft will do any good either.
6 - A. Lee Stewart
The horror of a law holding 3rd parties criminally responsible for the acts of others is the obligation of business owners and private citizens to police their customers and guests.
That such social control legislation has even been proposed and taken seriously is proof that US drug laws have succeeded in undermining even the most basic tenant of a free people in a free society.
7 - lauren paisley
I had a dream that I lived in america, with freedoms. But I think I woke up and I am now living in some sort of socialist republic?? I want my old america back! "America wasn't founded so we could all be better people, it was founded so we could do what we damnn well please." (stolen from PJ O'Rourke, Rolling Stone Magazine) Not anymore, PJ... we have no more freedoms than the rest of the world. Aren't we supposed to be "Land of the Free???" Please vote Biden out of OUR gov't in Delaware, and please vote Lamar Smith out of OUR gov't in Texas. We cannot afford such sneaky, dangerous minds in public office.