GAMBLING

Dear Sand Mtn Christians,

As you know, the battle for our state and the spiritual warfare is intensifying. We have seen big name Country Music stars telling us that we need the tax money from legalized gambling and that we need to "let the people vote", and the “Sweet Home Alabama” ads, paid for by the gambling bosses, want us to believe that the only way to get rid of illegal gambling in Alabama is to legalize and tax it. Are we to believe that the only way to get rid of prostitution is to legalize and tax it too? It’s ridiculous!

Instead of falling prey to the deception of the gambling proponents, contact your legislators and ask them to vote NO to legalizing any type of gambling in Alabama! If they talk about giving the people the right to vote, remind them that the people have already voted NO, many times, to gambling in Alabama and you are counting on them to oppose any gambling efforts.

The way to get rid of illegal gambling in Alabama is to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law those who are bringing addictive slot machines into our state.

You will hear the argument, “But we need the tax money”. That’s the same argument we hear during wet/dry elections. The tax benefits are very minimal and the costs are very high. And even if there were significant tax benefits, GAMBLING IS MORALLY WRONG, and as Christians it is our duty to stand for what is right and oppose what is wrong!

Call your legislators (representative and senator) and tell them to vote NO to all gambling bills, including any that would define bingo as a game played on electronic machines. As always, be respectful and courteous, but let them know that you want them to help in this matter. Assure them of your prayers and do not do anything that might put them in a defensive posture. Listen to them, but keep repeating your perspective on the issue.

The gambling industry is doing what they always do--they are deceiving people with half truths and false promises! What they will not tell us is that all of their financial resources come from the victims of their deceptive industry (the losers). They will not tell us about the tens (even hundreds) of billions of dollars lost each year in this nation by people who go to gamble at these establishments. They will not tell us about the increased crime, prostitution, alcohol-related problems, and drug-related problems that accompany big-time gambling. They will not tell us about the increased suicide rates, the broken families, the lost jobs, and financial destitution that accompanies big-time gambling.

Please pray that God will confuse Satan's forces in this battle and that God will give us wisdom and courage as we stand on His principles and as we stand up together on behalf of those who would become victims of the gambling industry!

Living to serve,

Bro. David

February 2009

VIDEO – Alabama Governor Bob Riley has a 5 minute video on the issue of Electronic Bingo. Click HERE to view the video.

VIDEO – The “Citizens for a Better Alabama” has a short ad about the Bingo slot machines called “The Truth About Gambling”. Click HERE to view the video.

Click to view the following resources and information about Gambling:

Letter from Gary Palmer - "Alabama Policy Institute"

Letter from Eric Johnston - "Citizens for a Better Alabama"

“Ten Things the Gambling Industry Won’t Tell You”

“A Biblical Case Against Gambling”

“Gambling Violates Biblical Principles”

“What the Bible Says About Gambling”

"Avoiding the Lure of Gambling”

“Biblical Insights on Gambling”

"The Addictive Nature of Gambling”
“Predatory Gambling” (in PDF format)

HOUSE AND SENATE REPS FOR OUR AREA:

State Senator LOWELL RAY BARRON (D)