Earlier this year, backdoor politics led to the RAVE Act being signed into law making it easier for law enforcement to arrest event holders for the drug offenses of their patrons. Live entertainment will be furthered endangered if the Ecstasy Awareness Act, anti-rave legislation broadening the RAVE Act, passes Congress.
Like the RAVE Act, this piece of legislation, currently being considered by Congress, could effectively ban live music and dancing while throwing innocent people like you in jail. If enacted, HR 2962 could prevent you from hearing your favorite band or DJ live.
Section 2 of the bill declares:
`(c) Whoever profits monetarily from a rave or similar electronic dance event, knowing or having reason to know that the unlawful use or distribution of a controlled substance occurs at the rave or similar event, shall be fined not more than $500,000 or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both. If the defendant is an organization, the fine imposable for the offense is not more than $2,000,000.'
Because drug use is a common occurrence at many musical events, this provision will leave the door open for any concert promoter, event organizer, or nightclub owner to be fined and jailed. Under the provisions of the Ecstasy Awareness Act, it doesn’t matter if the event promoter and property owner tried 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 and not do drugs.
The Ecstasy Awareness Act of 2003 is a dangerous piece of legislation that will suppress free speech and punish innocent business owners for the crimes of their customers. It is vital that voters contact their Representatives and tell them not to co-sponsor this bill.
read about this in chill out forum.. it's fucking crazy... the country of freedom is even trying to illegalize dance events.... good job!
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org
Last edited by St_Andrew on Aug-28-2003 at 17:18
Aug-28-2003 17:03
occrider
Traveladdict
Registered: Oct 2000
Location: New York
Well, essentially it's no different than the rave act that was sneaked in with the amber alert bill. The current anti-rave act essentially allows the owner of an establishment to face criminal charges in the event of drug use. The amendment to the rave act allows prosecutors to indict promoters of an event for throwing an event with drugs. So essentially it is granting no new powers, only broadening the list of those who are responsible. I haven't seen any instances where the rave act has been habitually abused since its passing so I'm somewhat unconcerned, I still hope it doesn't pass however.
What is surprising however, is that the bill was proposed in the house by 4 democrats , 2 from New Jersey!! Oh well, I'm sure the republicans aren't complaining. So anyway, at this point I'm unconcerned.
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Aug-28-2003 18:09
MisterOpus1
Grumpy Old Fart
Registered: Dec 2001
Location: Kansas City
quote:
Originally posted by occrider
What is surprising however, is that the bill was proposed in the house by 4 democrats , 2 from New Jersey!! Oh well, I'm sure the republicans aren't complaining. So anyway, at this point I'm unconcerned.
Yeah, kinda funny really. Also kinda reminds me of Tipper Gore vs. Twisted Sister back in the '80's with rock music causing so much "stir" that Congressional hearings were required. You ever notice how eerily similar Tipper's hair was to that Twisted Sister guy's hair (except I think he actually had the perm)?
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Aug-28-2003 20:34
Psionic
Dark & Dirty
Registered: Apr 2003
Location: Boston, MA
I love the irony of America. We are the "land of the free" yet there's the R.A.V.E. Act
Aug-28-2003 22:20
MrSquirrel
Auf Wiedersehen
Registered: Aug 2003
Location: In a Tree.
quote:
Originally posted by MisterOpus1
Yeah, kinda funny really. Also kinda reminds me of Tipper Gore vs. Twisted Sister back in the '80's with rock music causing so much "stir" that Congressional hearings were required. You ever notice how eerily similar Tipper's hair was to that Twisted Sister guy's hair (except I think he actually had the perm)?
Ahh the good old days of Tipper and the PMRC.
Poor Tipper and her pals should have done their homework and picked someone else to testify other than Dee Snider. No one was expecting a guy that looks like he did to be as intelligent, well-spoken, and well informed an individual as he was (and still is).
MrS
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Aug-28-2003 22:57
fuct4less
Tape recorders & earwaxxx
Registered: May 2003
Location: Out of my mind ... Get back to me in five minutes.
quote:
Originally posted by MrSquirrel
Ahh the good old days of Tipper and the PMRC.
Poor Tipper and her pals should have done their homework and picked someone else to testify other than Dee Snider. No one was expecting a guy that looks like he did to be as intelligent, well-spoken, and well informed an individual as he was (and still is).
MrS
and all this started from her buying her daughter a prince cd
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Aug-29-2003 23:00
DR86
I <3 GW Basketball
Registered: Jan 2003
Location: Neither Here Nor There {NYTA/DCTA}
anyone remember when Judas Priest was sued because some kids decided to committ suicide "because of the band"?
These kids had a suicide pact, and one of them ended up killing himself, and his parents blamed it on a Judas' Priest song. They said that on e of their tracks (can't remember which), when played over and over again, seems to emitt the words "Do It". Do what? Do it! make a ham sandwich!
Of course, the case was thrown out. but it only goes to show that music will never go unprotested in this country.
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It has to start sometime,
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What better time than now? --Rage Against the Machine
Aug-29-2003 23:23
ChrstnMchl
Senior tranceaddict
Registered: Aug 2003
Location: Atlanta
quote:
Originally posted by Galapidate
I love the irony of America. We are the "land of the free" yet there's the R.A.V.E. Act
If you are saying the irony of America is that a freely elected representative government (i.e. government by the people) can end up making mistakes then I guess I can kinda see that. It is kinda ironic that Americans choose to repress themselves, but I certainly do not see that as an excluse American trait. I consider that a human trait.
Besides I will take an unjust law that is clearly un-Constitutional and will be overturned by the people over any government that wants to tell me when to take vacation, what doctor to use, and how much am allowed to earn.
Aug-29-2003 23:28
DR86
I <3 GW Basketball
Registered: Jan 2003
Location: Neither Here Nor There {NYTA/DCTA}
quote:
Originally posted by ChrstnMchl
Besides I will take an unjust law that is clearly un-Constitutional and will be overturned by the people over any government that wants to tell me when to take vacation, what doctor to use, and how much am allowed to earn.
the passing of this law is a step in the directon of the type of government you mentioned...a communist one.
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It has to start somewhere,
It has to start sometime,
What better place then here?
What better time than now? --Rage Against the Machine
Aug-29-2003 23:30
joeh
NIAT
Registered: Jul 2002
Location: London, UK
quote:
Originally posted by DrummeRaver86
the passing of this law is a step in the directon of the type of government you mentioned...a communist one.
communist?
or fascist?
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Aug-30-2003 00:14
ChrstnMchl
Senior tranceaddict
Registered: Aug 2003
Location: Atlanta
quote:
Originally posted by DrummeRaver86
the passing of this law is a step in the directon of the type of government you mentioned...a communist one.
What tenant of communism refers to dancing or drugs?
It is human nature for one group of people in a society to think they know what is better for another group. This has nothing to do with capitalism, communism, or fascism. It has to do with power and the urge to use it.
Aug-30-2003 00:18
ChrstnMchl
Senior tranceaddict
Registered: Aug 2003
Location: Atlanta
quote:
Originally posted by joeh152
communist?
or fascist?
Fascism?
This is not a dictator trying to run everything. It is a representative government that believes it is representing the people in it's pursuit of the war on drugs (along with perceived drug culture).