Keep casino off hallowed ground

Keep casino off hallowed ground


WE HAVE nothing against gambling, per se.

Except, well, the obvious things.

Too many people become addicted to it.

Too many of those addicts are people who can ill afford to lose the money they have.

Recent stories have not painted a pretty picture of the whole “gaming” culture.

• A York woman created a stir among readers when she wrote a letter to the editor thanking a good Samaritan for returning her food stamp card that she lost at the Hollywood Casino. She later said she gambled only about $5, but that did little to temper taxpayer outrage.

• A recent editorial noted the case of a former York Police officer trying to get into the ARD program to wipe away a record for stealing more than $25,000 from the police evidence room to support a gambling addiction.

We could go on.

The proper role for the state is to regulate and tax the activity to make sure it gives something back to the community.

And so, the state allowed a number of slots parlors that are now morphing into casinos – and the state is considering proposals for new casino sites.

So be it.

But please not in Gettysburg, just a short hike from the site of one of the most bloody battles ever waged on American soil.

As many respected historians have argued, it’s just not an appropriate place for a casino.

David LeVan, the Gettysburg businessman behind the proposal, is a good guy who has done a lot for his community. But we must respectfully oppose his proposal.

But considering all the bad things that come with gambling, it’s just not worth it.

And we must look at the wider picture – the grand scope of history. Gettysburg holds a pivotal place in this nation. It is, arguably, the place where America was saved. It is hallowed ground. That’s the message. Let’s not mix it.

What a shame it would be to tarnish that, turning it into a “gaming” destination, for the sake of a few jobs.


York Daily Record, Pa.