Congressman Seeks to Protect Military from Gambling
Full House Needed for Gambling Ban
By Tony Perkins, Washington Update, December 17, 2007
Gambling may seem like harmless entertainment to some, but to others – like Army Warrant Officer Aaron Walsh – it holds a fatal attraction. When the decorated pilot was stationed overseas, he frequented the Army slot machines on military posts. The so-called “recreation” grew into a devastating addiction that cost Walsh his savings, his career, and, ultimately, his life.
After losing $20,000, he went AWOL, only to be found gambling on a military base in Seoul, Korea. Walsh resigned his position with the Army, but efforts to reconcile with his wife and two young children were hampered by his inability to kick the habit. Overwhelmed, Walsh went to a state park in September of 2006 and shot himself. Fearing other soldiers will fall into the same trap; Rep. Lincoln Davis (D-Tenn.) introduced H.R. 4497, a bill that would ban all gambling devices on military bases.
The Army currently raises about $130 million in net revenue from the $2 billion gambled annually in the 3,000 slot machines it operates abroad.While the Defense Department uses the money from the slots to pay for programs that boost troop morale, there are certainly safer options that do not encourage activities that put military families at risk. “[This] shouldn’t be about exploiting our service personnel,” Davis said.
The legislation, which has been named in honor of the late officer Walsh, could be debated as early as today. Join us in urging your members to follow Rep. Davis’s lead in supporting our troops where it matters most. Capitol Switchboard 1-202-224-3121
Note from Bill Kearney – Casino operators are offering those so-called freebies known as COMPES, and they’re tracking their patron’s money and time spent gambling with COMP-CARDS. These cards track every move the patron makes in the casino. This COMP-CARD system determines whether you’re going to get the buffet or the penthouse suite. The comps or so-called freebies make some justify their losses as they become addicted to the casino product. The COMP-CARD is their syringe; it’s how they deliver their drug.
Today in my state of Pennsylvania there are two Bills, one in our House of Representatives (HB 783) introduced by Rep. Clymer and one in our Senate (SB 423) introduced by Sen. Wonderling that will make the casino operators who are already tracking their patrons’ money and time spent gambling with COMP-CARDS to send monthly statements. This would enable gamblers and their family members to spot a loved one’s gambling problem before it gets out of hand. Hopefully it will come to fruition, because with casinos being glamorized and legalized and opening in all our backyards, many of our Mom-Moms, Pop-Pops, spouses, sisters, brothers, sons, daughters, and grandchildren are headed for some serious problems.
To learn more about my credentials this subject go on line and look up Bill Kearney on casino gambling, or go on ‘YOUTUBE’ and put my name in the search and check out the rest of my videos.
Open these links to view a sample of my videos. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfZWAVnr9to
