FC: Rep. Ron Paul on anti-Internet gambling bill, U.S. Constitution

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

[I saw Rep. Frank's speech, and as Norm says, it was well done. Naturally 
it was ignored. Previous Politech message: 
http://www.politechbot.com/p-04844.html --Declan]

---

From: "Singleton, Norman" <Norman.Singleton () mail house gov>
To: declan () well com
Subject: RE: Politech quotes of the week from members of Congress
Date: Fri, 13 Jun 2003 08:05:56 -0400

X-UIDL: f0f40f5b3e5d0f088ed69f26546c5c97

Here is Ron Paul's statement on internet Gambling (also barney Frank made a
great speech on the floor of the house against this bill):


Mr. Speaker, HR 2143 limits the ability of individual citizens to use bank
instruments, including credit cards or checks, to finance Internet gambling.
This legislation should be rejected by Congress since the federal government
has no constitutional authority to ban or even discourage any form of
gambling.

In addition to being unconstitutional, HR 2143 is likely to prove
ineffective at ending Internet gambling. Instead, this bill will ensure that
gambling is controlled by organized crime. History, from the failed
experiment of prohibition to today's futile "war on drugs," shows that the
government cannot eliminate demand for something like Internet gambling
simply by passing a law. Instead, HR 2143 will force those who wish to
gamble over the Internet to patronize suppliers willing to flaunt the ban.
In many cases, providers of services banned by the government will be
members of criminal organizations. Even if organized crime does not operate
Internet gambling enterprises their competitors are likely to be controlled
by organized crime. After all, since the owners and patrons of Internet
gambling cannot rely on the police and courts to enforce contracts and
resolve other disputes, they will be forced to rely on members of organized
crime to perform those functions. Thus, the profits of Internet gambling
will flow into organized crime. Furthermore, outlawing an activity will
raise the price vendors are able to charge consumers, thus increasing the
profits flowing to organized crime from Internet gambling. It is bitterly
ironic that a bill masquerading as an attack on crime will actually increase
organized crime's ability to control and profit from Internet gambling!

In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, HR 2143 violates the constitutional limits on
federal power. Furthermore, laws such as HR 2143 are ineffective in
eliminating the demand for vices such as Internet gambling; instead, they
ensure that these enterprises will be controlled by organized crime.
Therefore I urge my colleagues to reject HR 2143, the Unlawful Internet
Gambling Funding Prohibition Act.


Norman Kirk Singleton
Legislative Director
Congressman Ron Paul
203 Cannon
202-225-2831

"Those who have been intoxicated with power... can never willingly abandon
it."

Edmund Burke
  




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