HERE’S MORE ON THE RAVE ACT from the Center for the Advancement of Capitalism. Excerpt:
The RAVE Act has no valid law enforcement purpose. The initiative to pass this legislation came after federal prosecutors in Louisiana failed in their efforts to apply the existing crack-house statute to the owner of a concert venue where some illegal drug activity allegedly took place. Federal anti-drug officials apparently believe if they can suppress any gathering where drug use may occur, they will actually win the “war” on drugs. Years of empirical evidence documenting the government’s failure apparently does little to convince them of their error, to say nothing of the obvious violation of individual rights that takes place as officials demand more and more power.
Read the whole thing. If you’re interested, you should also read this brief from the New Orleans rave case (full disclosure: I was a coauthor, working with the Electronic Music Defense and Education Fund — we won). One thing it makes clear is that the DEA has been after not just drug use, but the “rave scene,” and electronic music in general, which it regards as part of a “drug culture” that it sees as a legitimate target.
UPDATE: I don’t approve of this suit against the Federal government, but I have to admit that in light of the Rave Act it has a certain sauce-for-the-gander character. (Via The Curmudgeonly Clerk).