Alabama is the hottest territory being stalked by the predatory gambling industry and the conspicuous corruption, frankly, couldn't be more conspicuous. Keep watching!
What took so long?
Reading all the articles in the Eagle lately, it seems that a lot of folks have forgotten that we live under a law-and-order system of government.
In my opinion, a group of people in elected office for Houston County and our state organized when a developer decided to bring gambling to Houston County.
Only one problem stood in their way — it was not legal. The state attorney general, the Houston County Commission and several judges, bought into the idea that the law could be circumvented.
In other words, they thought they could make their own law.
How arrogant have we become? In my opinion, they are very near to becoming part of organized crime.
The state Supreme Court interprets the laws passed by our state Legislature. The court handed down a six-point ruling that any fifth-grader could understand and should be enforced by law enforcement.
Simply, slot machines are not bingo cards.
I think the organized group knew this in the beginning, when the commission passed the ruling saying gambling could only take place at Country Crossing, giving them a monopoly in Houston County.
We hear Gilley, Culver and other people in their talking points call for civility. Don’t be fooled by this. The translation: Let us stay open while we work it through the court system or the Legislature. They know that it can be tied up a long time and can make millions of dollars in the meantime.
The people who don’t want gambling should not want it on the ballot. We do not have enough money in the state to fight a campaign when the opposition has more money than the state.
The answer is simply to make it legal. The law can be changed by the Legislature, but I don’t think that will happen for the same reason that some law officials are running for cover now.
In the meantime, all illegal gambling should be shut down and all assets should be liquidated and funds placed in the state’s coffers. Most people who break the law spend time in jail or pay fines; giving up their assets is the least they can do.
The big question is why has it taken 25 years for the law to go after illegal gambling?
George Barbrey
Newton
What took so long?
Reading all the articles in the Eagle lately, it seems that a lot of folks have forgotten that we live under a law-and-order system of government.
In my opinion, a group of people in elected office for Houston County and our state organized when a developer decided to bring gambling to Houston County.
Only one problem stood in their way — it was not legal. The state attorney general, the Houston County Commission and several judges, bought into the idea that the law could be circumvented.
In other words, they thought they could make their own law.
How arrogant have we become? In my opinion, they are very near to becoming part of organized crime.
The state Supreme Court interprets the laws passed by our state Legislature. The court handed down a six-point ruling that any fifth-grader could understand and should be enforced by law enforcement.
Simply, slot machines are not bingo cards.
I think the organized group knew this in the beginning, when the commission passed the ruling saying gambling could only take place at Country Crossing, giving them a monopoly in Houston County.
We hear Gilley, Culver and other people in their talking points call for civility. Don’t be fooled by this. The translation: Let us stay open while we work it through the court system or the Legislature. They know that it can be tied up a long time and can make millions of dollars in the meantime.
The people who don’t want gambling should not want it on the ballot. We do not have enough money in the state to fight a campaign when the opposition has more money than the state.
The answer is simply to make it legal. The law can be changed by the Legislature, but I don’t think that will happen for the same reason that some law officials are running for cover now.
In the meantime, all illegal gambling should be shut down and all assets should be liquidated and funds placed in the state’s coffers. Most people who break the law spend time in jail or pay fines; giving up their assets is the least they can do.
The big question is why has it taken 25 years for the law to go after illegal gambling?
George Barbrey
Newton
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