29 LEGISLATORS ASK FOR HELP IN COMBATING GRAY MACHINES
One important responsibility of human government is to protect it's
citizens from "dangers without and within". We hold our society together
by laws. Laws which bear no penalty for violation are useless. Failure
to enforce the laws which carry penalties for
violation is a mockery of justice. The failure to enforce the laws
against illegal gambling
via the "gray machines" in West Virginia is a mockery of the rule of law.
Many of our elected and appointed officials do not avail themselves of
the research and news reports of the destructive effects of gambling.
Laws against illegal sales of tobacco and drugs are targeted with "sting
operations" as a means of enforcement. Meanwhile, a chorus of the
executive, legislative, and law enforcement say that they cannot do the
same with illegal gambling via the "gray machines". The gambling
lobby has practically bought the state of West Virginia. A quick
sampling of the campaign financial records of our legislators and other
elected officials will substantiate this. Otherwise, why do the "gray
machines" owners and operators openly defy the laws of our state with
impunity?
Below is a letter signed by 29 [We should honor those bipartisan] members
of our West Virginia Senate and House of Delegates who have asked the
Governor "to enforce the law regarding gambling and gray machines."
If you would like to join our group please contact me. We are a growing
coalition of pro family organizations and individuals of West Virginia,
who say thank you to the four senators and the twenty five delegates who
signed the letter.
Henry Thaxton, Director
(304) 984-3509
West Virginians Against Government Waste
Rt. 13, Box 420-1/2, Charleston, WV 25412
Working for a better tomorrow in West Virginia
March 8, 2000
The Honorable Cecil H. Underwood
Governor, State of West Virginia
State Capitol
1900 Kanawha Blvd., East
Charleston, WV 25305
Dear Governor Underwood,
RE: REQUEST ADMINISTRATIVE ENFORCEMENT OF GAMBLING LAWS
The state is seeing a major expansion in gambling, including gray
machines. Mom and Pop grocery stores, restaurants, bars and taverns,
gas stations, hotels and other businesses are adding them. We suspect
that on a per person basis we have as many as South Carolina, which is
currently going through a crisis regarding their video poker machines.
The reason for their expansion is there appears to be no effort in
enforcing the law regarding the illegal payoffs of the gray machines.
And it is clear that those playing the machines are not doing it for
entertainment any more that someone would go to Atlantic City or Las
Vegas, put their money in just to see lights and hear bells ring with no
financial payoff.
We, the undersigned, request that you use the law enforcement agencies
at your disposal (State Police, ABCC, Tax officials, etc.) to enforce
the law regarding gambling and gray machines.
Sincerely,
signed by:
- Senator Donna Boley (R-Pleasants)
- Senator Frank Deen (R-Wood)
- Senator Walt Helmick (D-Pocahontas)
- Senator Mike Ross (D-Randolph)
- Delegate Bill Anderson (R-Wood)
- Delegate Tim Armstead (R-Kanawha)
- Delegate Tom Azinger (R-Wood)
- Delegate J.D. Beane (D-Wood)
- Delegate Larry Border (R-Wood)
- Delegate Ann Calvert (R-Kanawha)
- Delegate Shelley Moore Capito (R-Kanawha)
- Delegate Sammy Dalton (D-Lincoln)
- Delegate Tracy Dempsey (D-Lincoln)
- Delegate Sheirl Fletcher (R-Monogalia)
- Delegate Roy Givens (D-Brooke)
- Delegate Mike Hall (R-Putnam)
- Delegate Steve Harrison (R-Kanawha)
- Delegate Otis Leggett (R-Pleasants)
- Delegate Tom Louisos (D-Fayette)
- Delegate John Overington (R-Berkeley)
- Delegate John Pino (D-Fayette)
- Delegate Chuck Romine (R-Cabell)
- Delegate John Shelton (D-Nicholas)
- Delegate Jody Smirl (R-Cabell)
- Delegate Lisa Smith (R-Putnam)
- Delegate Sharon Spencer (D-Kanawha)
- Delegate Barbara Warner (D-Harrison)
- Delegate Rusty Webb (R-Kanawha)
- Delegate Gil White (R-Ohio)
