Dear UUDPR participants, Greetings! Now that Unitarian Universalists for Drug Policy Reform is giving public witness to the UUA's new drug policy Statement of Conscience, we encourage you to take action to oppose the most dangerous drug policy legislation currently moving through Congress. The action alert pasted below was written by the Drug Policy Alliance. (For more information, see http://www.drugpolicy.org .) Thank you very much for your time and consideration. All the best, Charles Thomas, executive director Unitarian Universalists for Drug Policy Reform http://www.uudpr.org 301-938-1577 ACTION ALERT: As you may know already, the Senate may soon vote on the RAVE Act, a dangerous bill that is a threat to free speech, property rights and public health. Groups that SUPPORT THE DRUG WAR have launched a campaign to get voters to write their Senators in support of the RAVE Act. It is extremely important that you write your Senators and tell them to oppose the bill. Senators need to hear that the RAVE Act will punish innocent business owners, hurt the very people it's meant to help, and squash events that federal prosecutors don't like. IT IS URGENT THAT YOU ACT RIGHT AWAY. The Senate could be voting on the RAVE Act as early as September 3rd. ACTIONS TO TAKE ** Write your Senators today. To find out who your Senators are go to: http://www.senate.gov/senators/senator_by_state.cfm. Talking points and a sample letter are below (although it's best to use you own words). For more information on the RAVE Act see: http://www.drugpolicy.org/action/RaveBill.html ** Please forward this e-mail to friends and family. Thousands of pro-drug war voters are writing their Senators in support of the RAVE Act. Senators need to get thousands of letters from opponents of the RAVE Act. ACT NOW! TALKING POINTS FOR LETTERS TO SENATORS *** I am writing to express my opposition to the S.2633, the "Reducing Americans' Vulnerability to Ecstasy Act of 2002" (RAVE Act), which is a threat to free speech, property rights and public health. *** The RAVE Act will hurt the very people it's meant to protect. We need to protect teens from the dangers of drugs. Unfortunately, the RAVE Act will drive raves and other musical events further underground and away from emergency care and hospitals. Moreover, by insinuating that selling bottled water, offering air-conditioned "cool off" rooms and having ambulances present is proof that owners and promoters know that drug use is occurring at their events, the bill may make business owners too afraid to implement the kind of safety measures that will save lives. *** The RAVE Act unfairly punishes businessmen and women for the actions of their customers. It is too broadly written and could subject innocent business owners to enormous fines or prison sentences, especially restaurant and nightclub owners, concert promoters, landlords, and real estate managers. Business owners could be prosecuted even if they took steps to stop drug use on their property. *** While some supporters of the RAVE Act are trying to distort the debate over this bill by saying it has nothing to do with free speech, the RAVE Act will stifle musical expression and is clearly a threat to free speech and the right to dance. If the bill becomes law, property owners may be too afraid to rent or lease their property to groups holding all-night dance parties, rock or Hip-Hop concerts, or any other event rightly or wrongly perceived as attracting drug users (essentially any event that attracts a young crowd.) SAMPLE LETTER The Honorable (full name of Senator) United States Senate Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Senator (last name): I am writing to express my opposition to S.2633, the "Reducing Americans' Vulnerability to Ecstasy Act of 2002" (RAVE Act), which is a threat to free speech, property rights and public health. While a number of groups are trying to claim that the RAVE Act isn't about attacking one kind of music or punishing innocent business owners, it is clear from reading the bill and examining recent case law that they are wrong. The RAVE Act will hurt the very people it's meant to protect. We need to protect teens from the dangers of drugs. Unfortunately, the RAVE Act will drive raves and other musical events further underground and away from emergency care and hospitals. Moreover, by insinuating that selling bottled water, offering air-conditioned "cool off" rooms and having ambulances present is proof that owners and promoters know that drug use is occurring at their events, the bill may make business owners too afraid to implement the kind of safety measures that will save lives. The RAVE Act also unfairly punishes businessmen and women for the actions of their customers. It is too broadly written and could subject innocent business owners to enormous fines or prison sentences, especially restaurant and nightclub owners, concert promoters, landlords, and real estate managers. Business owners could be prosecuted even if they took steps to stop drug use on their property. The government can't even keep drugs out of its own prisons, yet it's seeking to punish business owners for failing to stop their customers from using drugs. Please oppose S.2633, the RAVE Act. Drug abuse is a serious problem that demands serious attention, but this bill will do more harm than good.