Lottery 'Predatory,' Amendment Opponents Say

Last updated Thursday, October 30, 2008 6:37 PM CDT in News

By Doug Thompson
THE MORNING NEWS

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    FAYETTEVILLE -- People facing layoffs and foreclosures have less money to afford lottery tickets and increased desperation to buy them, opponents of Proposed Constitutional Amendment 3 said during a Fayetteville stop on a statewide tour.

    Spokesmen for United Methodists Against Gambling stopped in five cities including Fayetteville on Thursday in a tour by air to try and stop the amendment, which showed 65 percent support in the recently announced results of the annual Arkansas Poll by the University of Arkansas. Money from the state lottery would go to scholarships to Arkansas colleges and universities.

    "The end simply does not justify the means," said minister Carl Palmer of Elm Springs, one of the speakers at the 2 p.m. news conference at Drake Field in Fayetteville.

    "I have an uncle who lives in Florida," Palmer said. "A dozen years ago, he won $90,000 in a lottery. He's lost it all and more. He's retired from the U.S. Postal Service, and now works at a convenience store to pay for his lottery addiction."

    Combining an addictive gambling option at a time of a serious economic slowdown is "morally wrong" and "predatory," speakers said.

    Scott Trotter of Little Rock, an attorney volunteering to assist the Methodist group, said the amendment is needlessly and dangerously vague. It does not define lottery as the sale of lottery tickets, giving the state Legislature room to define lottery as any gambling activity.

    "A vote for this amendment is a gamble," Trotter said.

    Lt. Gov. Bill Halter, the amendment's chief proponent, said that the state constitution "is not the place to put definitions. There are 42 states in the country with lotteries, and only three define the word lottery in the state constitutions."

    "Lottery means lottery, and Arkansas voters are smart enough to know the difference," Halter said.

    "Today I was at the No. 1 site for lottery ticket sales for the state of Missouri: Mr. T's in Cardwell, in the bootheel," Halter said. "They're just across the border from Paragould. They sell $5.6 million worth of lottery tickets a year. That's $15,000 worth of lottery tickets a day. The top five Missouri locations for ticket sales are on the Arkansas border." Arkansans could be benefiting from those sales and not Missouri, he said.

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    Reader Comments (23 comment(s))


    The following comments are provided by readers and are the sole responsibility of their authors. The Morning News does not review comments before their publication, nor do we guarantee their accuracy. By publishing a comment here you agree to abide by our comment policy. If you see a comment that violates our policy, please notify the web editor.

    HoUsEQuAkE wrote on Oct 30, 2008 6:52 PM:

    " The same poor people that can't afford to buy them are buying them in Missouri, Oklahoma, and all the other surrounding states. I am glad when I drive thru those states and they have nice good roads and well funded schools that all these Arkansas $$$'s are funding those states! People will gamble no matter what, we have had Casino's just over in West Siloam for years now and I have yet to go there. So just because casinos are there doesn't mean people will go lay down their pay checks. This is just from religious groups and I bet Hot Springs and West Memphis are involved in trying to get this shut down. They stand to lose money if people aren't betting on their horses and dogs. More people want what they can't have (ex. Prohibition). Yes alcohol can be very bad, but its only bad when people let it be. Same with gambling, lotteries, heck even eating food!

    Just my 2 cents "

    tootsie wrote on Oct 30, 2008 7:03 PM:

    " I have never in my life bought a ticket. I planned to a few times when I was out of state but forgot every time I went into a store. How much do they cost? I think if they don't cost much I will buy one a week. Maybe I can win some money. But I know if I have enough money to spend on them or not. I don't need anyone telling me how to spend my money People should mind their own business. How would they like it if we wanted all those churches disbanded? Live and let live. My grandma always said that church begins at home. And Clean Up Your Own House. Just leave mine alone. "

    Lone Star wrote on Oct 30, 2008 7:17 PM:

    " Religous folks; always trying to change others to their way of thinking. I was in Missouri ealier today. 90% of the cars and trucks parked at Walmart and the liquor store sported Arkansas license plates. Hello? This is Arkansas money going out of state! "

    ozarks wrote on Oct 30, 2008 8:00 PM:

    " toots: a lotto ticket cost $1.00. I will buy one too and I announce right here and now, I will be the first to but a ticket and win the lotto. I am going to be a lucky and rich lad. But I won't forget you small people that supported me before I became sticking rich. :) I need a new pair of shoes. "

    CONCERNEDINLA wrote on Oct 31, 2008 12:30 AM:

    " I agree with tootsie and housequake. And don't forget the casinos in Miss. Look at the church charter tours to go and gamble. I wish for once that these holy rollers quit trying to make people live and think like they do. Oh!! Isn't that the same as communism control? Everyone has the right to think for themselves. Let's keep all the millions in the state and not to the other states. "

    lousaxon wrote on Oct 31, 2008 8:55 AM:

    " Religous organizations have to understand that here in the USA we have ALL agreed to support a system of majority rule. If 65% of the people want the lottery, then so be it and let the majority rule "

    rogersfan wrote on Oct 31, 2008 9:16 AM:

    " This is the sencond time in 2 weeks a story about the lottery and these bible thumpers have been in the news. I am so sick of people thinking they have the right to tell me how to live and what I should or should not spend my money on. If they don't want to buy lottery tickets, then don't buy them... people will buy the tickets no matter where they are sold...let's keep arkansas money in arkansas and start taking care of roads and our children's education. Find something else to preach about... not everything has to boil down to religion and how we're all going straight to "you know where" if we buy a lottery ticket. "

    recross1 wrote on Oct 31, 2008 9:17 AM:

    " Mr Palmers sad story about his uncle just proves to me his uncle didnt have enough sense to manage his money. "

    listenandhear wrote on Oct 31, 2008 9:36 AM:

    " Well in a way I kinda have to admire these people for taking a strong stance on what they believe. I can't agree with them though. Palmer saing that the ends don't justify the means struck a really wrong cord with me. We shouldn't supplement funding for higher education, just because some people might not be able to control themselves? That seems like an overly protective stance toward adults who can make their own decisions. "

    swampman wrote on Oct 31, 2008 11:10 AM:

    " Its not just Arkansas money staying in Arkansas all the other misguided soles from the surrounding states will being some of this money back when they buy one of our lotto tickets. "

    ozarks wrote on Oct 31, 2008 12:19 PM:

    " In the end those that want to stop us from a lottery are the surrounding states. This is going top pass big and about time. I said 15 years ago we needed a lotto. Think of the money we would have made from the other states if we had gotten a leg up on this. Where can we apply for a job to count all of that money? Here is what we have to do though, keep our eye on how the money is used. Next thing you know the money will be going here and there and we are being taxed out the yingyang. Or is this money to just give the UA and tuitions stay the same and they build fancy colleges and pay the teachers big money? Oh well, I won't care cause I am going to be a winner and I promise again not to forget you all. :) "

    masonstorm1958 wrote on Nov 1, 2008 8:39 AM:

    " The only thing that is predatory about the lottery is the religious fools who don't think adults are not capable of thinking for themselves. All Mr.Cox wants is to control the agenda to establish dominion over the social actions of the people of this state. His approach reminds me of how Communists try to control an individual's every action and thought and subvert it to their will. To me, there is not one iota's difference between Communism and religion. They both aspire to subjugate the people through any means possible. "

    tootsie wrote on Nov 1, 2008 12:05 PM:

    " They should just shut up and give it a break. I don't want anyone telling me what to think and how I should feel. They do not make decisions for me. I can decide if I want to buy 1 ticket a month or maybe 2. That is what freedon is. The right to choose and make your own decisions. I am not a religous person and I respect the rights of others to be that way if they choose. But they better lay off on trying to stamp out my rights. I might start campaigning to stamp out their rights. See haw they would like that. Everyone just live and let live. Folks who won't tae care of their families are not gonna be affected by this. Maybe somebody really needing money will actually win some. Revenue goes to the state. What is the big problem? "

    tootsie wrote on Nov 1, 2008 12:13 PM:

    " Since my first post on this issue days ago, and gettin mad and posting my second time I am saying thanks OZARKS. I think at $1.00 a ticket I can decide if I want to waste a dollar a week or maybe two. I don't think that small amount will break my broken bank and if everyone else did the same maybe we could have some good cash flow back into this state. It's kinda like the sales tax issue. Revenue leaves and it hurts the cities. Our lottery revenues would better serve us here in this state. Think people. Don't let anyone tell you what to think or what to do with anything. "

    tulsa_cane_fan wrote on Nov 2, 2008 8:45 AM:

    " lets just ask him a question... if one of his members of his church just happen to hit the lotto would he take any of the money as a donation from that person...and if he did ..what would that make him????? "

    masonstorm1958 wrote on Nov 2, 2008 9:19 AM:

    " What he already is. "

    scout65708 wrote on Nov 3, 2008 9:27 AM:

    " I wonder how many of the protesters play church sponsored bingo? It's not a sin if the proceeds go to their good causes. If the poor spend a dollar a week on lottery, and it gives them a glimmer of hope, then it is worth it. "

    brneyedgirl821 wrote on Nov 3, 2008 12:37 PM:

    " Keep the money in Arkansas and help us to have better schools. We will need it to teach kids and their parents to speak English. "

    BigTex wrote on Nov 3, 2008 6:04 PM:

    " How is the "predatory" lottery any worse than predatory taxes that take money from the middle class and redistribute the wealth to the poor? "

    7688 wrote on Nov 4, 2008 6:12 AM:

    " Well Tex you had better get ready for alot more of that after the first of the year. "

    gary wrote on Nov 4, 2008 12:48 PM:

    " tulsa-cane-fan, this question was asked to a minister.

    IF, it was done legally, then giving to the church would be O.K., IF the winnings from gambling were taken illegally then you should not give to the church.

    The Bible teaches that the church, ( GOD ), does not want illegal gains.

    So, IF the lottery is legal and one of the churches patrons won it, they would probably want their share. The only way the church should not take any of the winnings is IF the person is not taking care of the obligations to themselves and their families.

    Remember, the Bible teaches that over indulgence of most anything could be considered a SIN. "

    tulsa_cane_fan wrote on Nov 7, 2008 6:26 AM:

    " if that church voted against the lottery and still took the money then tell me what dose that make them i got a good word for that !!!! the church s need to step back and MYOB now that the people have spoken the bill has pass d so go sing your hyms and shut up "

    tulsa_cane_fan wrote on Nov 9, 2008 8:35 PM:

    " and here s another thought lets start taxing the churches its time they started paying up they got all sorts of money to pay out sooooo lets let them pay for some things around here .... no more free rides for preachers its time they pay income tax too and no more church bingo s unless there s an irs agent there to monitor the event "


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