I am writing this petition as a concerned member of the music festival community. I was at Beyond Wonderland 2023 in the campgrounds when there was an active shooter murdering 2 beautiful members (Brandy Escamilla and Josilyn Ruiz) of my community and wounding 3 others (Andrew "August" Caudra, Lori Williams, and Lily Luksich) Everything was handled so poorly from start to finish at that festival. Security checks were very lax, and nonexistent for pedestrians, and when it was happening so many people were left completely unaware still in the campgrounds. I was approached by campers when I was informed. There wasn't any workers or security in site.

This is not an isolated incident. Bass Canyon 2022 almost had a shooter too, Las Vegas 2017 had a mass shooting, Okeechobee 2022 had a drowning, and there have been more than enough drug related incidents without proper on-site resources to handle overdoses or information and test kits being passed out. We are not being protected, and we need to do better. Harm reduction succeeds where the war on drugs has failed.

The Rave Act signed in 2002 allows prosecutors to go after rave promoters and venues for drug use, which has created a culture that turns a blind eye during security checks because nobody wants to kill the party. Guns are being snuck in effortlessly leading to shootings and deaths at places that are supposed to be safe havens for free expression. 1 death is too many. This cannot become thematic!

Increased police presence is necessary but they need to be there for threats, not drugs. Security checks should be treated like TSA. If airports can be safe, music festivals can be safe. Evacuation strategies should be available and distributed to attendees with their ticket and campground purchases. Everyone should have a plan for action for these worst case scenarios. Overdose tents should be abundant and fully stocked with Narcan and have trained professionals ready to help. We should all be informed on how to use Narcan via video sent out with tickets. Security should not be made up of minimum wage employees. Trained professionals making the wages to support their training should be protecting attendees. Not teenagers. The current system is failing us all.

We demand that either the Rave Act be repealed or amended with provisions that protect attendees from harm without penalizing promoters and venues for creating an environment where drug use is allowed, but requires them to maintain a high standard of security and reaction teams for the safety of everyone both working and in attendance.

Please sign this petition if you believe that music festivals should be safe spaces where attendees can express themselves freely without fear of violence or harm.

Sources:
- "The RAVE Act: Unintended Consequences?" by Drug Policy Alliance
- "Rave Culture Is Back—But It Never Really Left" by Rolling Stone
- "Beyond Wonderland Shooting Leaves Two Dead" by Your EDM