2 deaths at Ozzfest, arrests lead to booze ban in parking lot

Newsday.com ^ | August 17, 2007

[Eric Blair 2084]

Authorities are taking a tougher approach after a crackdown failed to stop underage drinking at PNC Bank Arts Center.

Effective Friday, alcohol is banned in the parking lot of the central New Jersey Arts Center. The ban comes a day after two people died and more than 80 people were arrested Thursday night at an Ozzfest concert.

Police are investigating the deaths of two men, identified as Raymond Guarino, 26, of Forked River and Patrick Norris, 24, of Coram, N.Y.

After possibly taking drugs and alcohol, both passed out in separate incidents at the concert, went into cardiac arrest and later died. State Police said the men were believed to have ingested cocaine, marijuana and alcohol prior to their deaths, and troopers who searched Guarino's vehicle found small amounts of both drugs.

Eighty-three people were arrested during the concert; 59 were charged with underage drinking. Other charges included distribution of drugs, lewd behavior and providing alcohol to a minor.

Authorities said the Ozzfest incidents were the latest in a long string of problems this season that led them to ban alcohol in the center's parking lot.

"This is a dramatic step to have to take, but one that is necessary given the potential consequences of such risky behavior," Gov. Jon S. Corzine said Friday.

[Eric Blair 2084]

When they came for the drinkers during Prohibition, I did not speak out, as I was not a drinker.

When they came for the employees of the oldest profession in the world, I did not speak out, as I had no interest in purchasing sex.

When they came for the purveyors of what was deemed to be "obscene" or "offensive", I did not speak out, as I was not a fan of entertainers like Lenny Bruce or Howard Stern.

When they came to ban the female mammary gland from TV, I did not speak out, because Brian Boitano told me not to.

When they came for the marijuana smokers, I did not speak out, as I was not a marijuana smoker.

When they came for the steroid users, I did not speak out, as I was not a steroid user.

When they came for the _______ (insert nominally objectionable behavior here), I did not speak out as I was not a _________ (fill in the blank).

When they came for the pornographers, I did not speak out, as I was not a pornographer.

When they came for the people who don't wear seatbelts, I did not speak out, as I always wore my seatbelt.

When they came for the gun owners, I did not speak out, as I was not a gun owner.

When they came for the gamblers, I did not speak out, as I was not a gambler.

When they came for the cigarette smokers, I did not speak out, as I was not a smoker.

When they came for the overweight and the obese, I did not speak out, as I was not overweight or obese.

When they came for the drinkers (again), I did not speak out, as I was not a drinker.

Then they came for me...and there was nobody left to speak out.

[Eric Blair 2084]

Big Brother, Nanny State, Grant Junky, Bogus Study, Junk Science, Social Engineering, Sheeple Control, Health Nazi Ping!!!

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Preamble:

We the People Sheeple of the United States Nanny State, in Order to form a more perfect Union Socialist Utopia, establish Justice Socially engineer a country of non smoking, physically fit, tea totallers, insure domestic Tranquility Smoking bans in bars, limits on unhealthy food and social drinking, provide for the common defense Universal Healthcare, promote the general Welfare health of the population whether they like it or not, in order to save above mentioned Universal Healthcare entitlement program from bankruptcy, and secure the Blessings of Liberty Dependency to ourselves progressive liberals and our Posterity Hitler Youth who we brainwash through public school education, do ordain decree and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. Nanny State of Liberals

[lormand]

Freakin' pansies.

In my day, we went to concerts, took fists full of horse pills, washed it down with alcohol, and smoked 3 bags of weed before the backup band was finished...and none of us died because of it.

:)

[paul51]

If a bunch of drunken drug abusers want to hang out, let them do it in their own yards.

[CholeraJoe]

After possibly taking drugs and alcohol, both passed out in separate incidents at the concert, went into cardiac arrest and later died.

Choked on someone else's vomit.

[Tex Pete]

What does Big Brother have to do with idiots killing themselves with drugs?

Sounds like these morons are candidates for Darwin awards.

[TChris]

That whole list is a sham. Why not continue?

When they came for the pedophiles I did not speak out, for I was not attracted to children.

When they came for the rapists I did not speak out, for I did not want to destroy women.

When they came for the thieves, I did not speak out, for I did not steal.

When they came for the con men, I did not speak out, for I had not fallen for a scam.

etc.

etc.

It's all in where you want to draw the line. Most people want to draw it in a place you don't, apparently.

The Constitution allows elected representatives to legislate the aggregate morality of the majority. That's the way it works. (The "don't legislate your morality" meme is old and false.) Deal with it.

[swarthyguy]

Seeing how the two dead dudes were over the drinking age, this seems to me to be an argument for the letting the underagers drink, as they seem to know how to handle their ingestion habits.

You can vote, you can die for your country (ever see MacNeilLehrer’s Honor Roll at the end of the newscast) but you can’t have a f*****g beer legally.!

[doodad]

And you can’t dust for vomit, can you?

[JmyBryan]

When intoxicants are outlawed, only outlaws will have intoxicants.

[CholeraJoe]

Not really. At least it wasn't Spontaneous Human Combustion.

[Drew68]

I can't help but remember my concert-going days in the 1980s. We'd camp out for good seats at Red Rocks Amphitheater in Denver. You had to get there early to stand in line as the place was then General Admission.

There were no restrictions on alcohol, only on glass bottles, so empty plastic gallon milk jugs filled with booze were what people brought.

People would start showing up around 6 or 7 in the morning and then drink until the gates opened up at noon. Once seated, people would drink warm booze from these gallon plastic jugs in the hot summer sun all day long. The need for non-alcohol hydration was scoffed at. By the time the show started at 7:00pm, people would be passed out, puking, fighting, getting hurt, dehydrated and sick. The bathroom floor was a swamp of vomit while the stench of booze, puke B.O. and stale marijuana smoke permeated the air.

Ahh... Those were some good times!!!

Red Rocks has long since cracked down. People aren't even allowed into the parking lot until 4:00 or 5:00pm. Containers are searched for alcohol (if they even allow outside containers at all anymore) and the bathrooms are much cleaner. I haven't been there for a show in about 5 years but you could buy booze if you wanted --for around $7 per drink.

[donna]

When the drunks and druggies can clean up after themselves without inconveniencing civilians and bury their own dead without help from the taxpayers, then they can complain.

As long as they expect help from decent people, they have to follow some rules.

[Psycho_Bunny]

There’s no reason why they shouldn’t ban alcohol in the parking lot.

[Eric Blair 2084]

Sir, you are missing the point by such a wide margin I don’t even know where to begin.

There is a big difference between rapists, murderers, pedophiles and the behavior on that list. I’ll give you 30 minutes, 20 questions and/or 3 guesses (the first two don’t count) to try and figure it out.

You seem like a bright guy, go to work and see if you can answer your own question.

[383rr]

Wine is fine, but whiskey’s quicker, suicide is slow with liquor-

Suicide Solution- Ozzy Osbourne

Maybe a lyrics change is in order?

[383rr]

Don’t hold your breath on that one.

[wastedyears]

I’m glad I don’t go to any of these concerts.

[Global2010]

Marijuana was drug of choice during booze prohibition.

Smoking Parlors.

So that should be higher up on the list as they prohibited it after the booze. Just FYI

[donna]

In the 2004 Survey of Inmates in State and Federal Correctional Facilities, 32% of State prisoners and 26% of Federal prisoners said they had committed their current offense while under the influence of drugs.

Among State prisoners, drug offenders (44%) and property offenders (39%) reported the highest incidence of drug use at the time of the offense.

Among Federal prisoners, drug offenders (32%) and violent offenders (24%) were the most likely to report drug use at the time of their crimes.

Source: BJS, Drug Use and Dependence, State and Federal Prisoners, 2004, NCJ 213530, October 2006.

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/dcf/duc.htm