| Subject: Re: Just read |
| From: "Barrett Brown" <barriticus@gmail.com> |
| Date: 8/21/08, 17:34 |
| To: "Karen Lancaster" <lancaster.karen@gmail.com> |
With ordinance
Party's Over: New Social Host Law Will Rein in Teen Drunk Driving Deaths
Over the next few years, (locality) will see a reduction in the number of drunk driving deaths, sexual assaults, and a range of other crimes and (locality) will have the newly-passed Social Host ordinance to thank for it.
The new law, which goes into effect on (date), has already proven its ability to prevent such tragedies in the more than 150 cities and counties and 24 states that have already adopted such policies. This is because Social Host laws constitute a universal solution to the universal problem of underage drinking parties.
A 2007 survey found that one hundred percent of parent respondents agreed with the statement that "It is not okay for teens to drink when parents aren't home." Nonetheless, private homes remain the most popular place for teens to gather for illegal drinking sessions of the sort that rarely stop with just a few beers.
Thus it is that the Social Host ordinance will place a new and justified legal onus on adults who own the property where such crimes occur. Specifically, the new law states that (WHAT NEW LAW STATES), with offenders being faced with the possibility of (FINES AND/OR PUNISHMENT).
And local law enforcement will take such infractions seriously; police are more likely than most to understand the terrible consequences that teen drinking parties can have. "Police officers are often unable to determine who supplied the alcohol when they arrive at a teen party," (he/she) says, "but they can easily determine to whom the property belongs and then charge the individual in question with allowing the underage drinking party to take place."
Underage drinking parties are crimes of opportunity; teens will hold such things in pastures that aren't visible from nearby roadways, campgrounds surrounded by trees, on ranches located far from prying eyes, at remote lake houses, and homes in which parents are nowhere to be found. Though often written off as a harmless "right of passage" by teens and even some adults, these sorts of activities are far from benign; a recent study by the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation found that such parties "can be particularly problematic because of the number of drinkers involved and the large quantities of alcohol consumed. Reports of alcohol poisoning, traffic crashes, property damage, community disturbance, violence, and sexual assault are all too common as a result of these parties."
The success of Social Host laws in reducing these crimes in other jurisdictions has provided further evidence for what common sense tells us anyway if we want to prevent our children from being dangers to themselves and others, we must cut off the underlying cause of such dangers at the source. The Social Host approach helps to do just that by providing a strong impetus for parents to keep tabs on what crimes may be committed on their property, lest they face the just legal consequences of aiding illegal activity.
Today, studies continue to indicate that about half of parents do not know what their legal liability would be if someone else's child were to be caught drinking in their home. Some of these same parents actually host teenage drinking parties themselves, relying on the argument that, if kids are going to drink, they'll be safer doing so in the home. That, of course, is a big "if" - kids can indeed be prevented from engaging in underage drinking if they receive responsible guidance and are otherwise prevented from doing so. As (local police official) says, "They won't drink if they don't have a place to hold the party. We would love to have a law like this in place, as they send a clear message to parents who are considering hosting a party, or who are looking the other way while a party takes place, that they will be prosecuted for their role."
The experts agree that it's time to put an end to the party; we're glad that (locality) agrees, too.
Also, please change"one hundred percent of parents"
to
"one hundred percent of parent respondents"
On Thu, Aug 21, 2008 at 5:16 PM, Karen Lancaster <lancaster.karen@gmail.com> wrote:Yup, got it. Thanks.
On Thu, Aug 21, 2008 at 4:14 PM, Barrett Brown <barriticus@gmail.com> wrote:
Also, title of last op-ed should include word "rein," not "reign." My bad.
On Thu, Aug 21, 2008 at 4:55 PM, Karen Lancaster <lancaster.karen@gmail.com> wrote:
That's incredible. He is good at making a name for himself. Would be wonderful for you to hook up with. Very impressive, MSTG!
On Thu, Aug 21, 2008 at 12:00 PM, Barrett Brown <barriticus@gmail.com> wrote:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dbvwr1Oxhus
On Thu, Aug 21, 2008 at 8:21 AM, Karen Lancaster <lancaster.karen@gmail.com> wrote:
Boy, the stars are aligned for you. Copy me in on what you do for him?
On Thu, Aug 21, 2008 at 2:35 AM, Barrett Brown <barriticus@gmail.com> wrote:
And now Ellen has put me in charge of assisting a Democratic contender for some Orange County utilities board beat one of the Republicans on said board. I am now a campaign manager on the side. Wish me luck with my first election.
On Wed, Aug 20, 2008 at 10:42 PM, Karen Lancaster <lancaster.karen@gmail.com> wrote:
Ohmigod, that's incredible. And he works for the World Bank? Amazing.
On Wed, Aug 20, 2008 at 9:38 PM, Barrett Brown <barriticus@gmail.com> wrote:
Here's the guy I'm writing for:
http://www.satiachath.com/
On Wed, Aug 20, 2008 at 10:26 PM, Karen Lancaster <lancaster.karen@gmail.com> wrote:
Well, you certainly do appear to be incredibly inspired by something. You must be feeling good about this extraordinary work you're doing.
On Wed, Aug 20, 2008 at 9:20 PM, Barrett Brown <barriticus@gmail.com> wrote:
I feel like I have been inspired recently and will soon be doing much better than I have been doing for the last... forever.
On Wed, Aug 20, 2008 at 10:12 PM, Karen Lancaster <lancaster.karen@gmail.com> wrote:
Also very brilliant. You're on a roll, it seems to me? Good stuff, very good stuff.
--
KAREN LANCASTER, WRITER/EDITOR
3419 Westminster Ave., Box 25
Dallas, TX 75205
(214) 914-0455
lancaster.karen@gmail.com
--
KAREN LANCASTER, WRITER/EDITOR
3419 Westminster Ave., Box 25
Dallas, TX 75205
(214) 914-0455
lancaster.karen@gmail.com
--
KAREN LANCASTER, WRITER/EDITOR
3419 Westminster Ave., Box 25
Dallas, TX 75205
(214) 914-0455
lancaster.karen@gmail.com
--
KAREN LANCASTER, WRITER/EDITOR
3419 Westminster Ave., Box 25
Dallas, TX 75205
(214) 914-0455
lancaster.karen@gmail.com
--
KAREN LANCASTER, WRITER/EDITOR
3419 Westminster Ave., Box 25
Dallas, TX 75205
(214) 914-0455
lancaster.karen@gmail.com
--
KAREN LANCASTER, WRITER/EDITOR
3419 Westminster Ave., Box 25
Dallas, TX 75205
(214) 914-0455
lancaster.karen@gmail.com