why was this law passed?

[IcyHotMonkey]

Here’s a list of the types of firearms that are generally illegal to own under federal law:

* Fully automatic machine guns
* Gun with an obliterated serial number
* Gun not detectable by a walk-through metal detector
* Shotgun with a barrel length less than 18 inches, or an overall length less than 26 inches
* Rifle with a barrel length less than 16 inches, or an overall length less than 26 inches
* Silencer

It's a good thing my silenced, fully automatic, 17 inch barrel, non detectable by metal detector, obliterated serial number with a detachable 15 inch rifle barrel shotgun is safely under my bed.

[AAAA]

Somehow I wonder if these Bible thumpers realize that they are likely putting hundreds or thousands of third world people out of jobs...

Maybe we could get a list of all the families that lose their jobs in Costa Rica, Antigua and all the other weak economies that had been thriving with decent paying jobs that gaming companies provided.

[Willie the Cat]

There are hundreds of horse races run every day. Even races from Australia and Hong Kong can be bet on. I stopped betting on them because (IMO) it's more like veterinarian racing than horse racing. Too many drugs.

[destroBU]

[ QUOTE ]
Even skill-less forms of gambling such as the lottery benefit local school systems.


[/ QUOTE ]

That's only because they're taxed. If they just made online gambling legal like normal B&M gambling is in many areas, they'd tax the hell out of it, too, and once again schools and so forth would benefit.

And while I didn't see anyone arguing that poker is a positive thing for society, I think you could make the argument that it is some small positive in that it is one of america's favorite pastimes. Long before the Hold Em boom, Americans were regularly having their "poker night," and now it's even more prevalent. It's a legitimate pastime and the pros are a form of entertainment, just like sports. Obviously, I don't think that's a huge monstrous benefit to society, but it's something.

As someone else mentioned, if it wasn't for poker, degenerates would just gamble on something else. If they couldn't gamble on something else, they'd take up drugs. If they couldn't find drugs, it'd be alcohol... and so on. These degenerate addict types just need to go life-busto before they're ever going to have a chance at turning their lives around. Getting rid of online poker/gambling isn't going to change that at all.

[oldmcycles]

[ QUOTE ]
Here’s a list of the types of firearms that are generally illegal to own under federal law:

* Fully automatic machine guns
* Gun with an obliterated serial number
* Gun not detectable by a walk-through metal detector
* Shotgun with a barrel length less than 18 inches, or an overall length less than 26 inches
* Rifle with a barrel length less than 16 inches, or an overall length less than 26 inches
* Silencer

It's a good thing my silenced, fully automatic, 17 inch barrel, non detectable by metal detector, obliterated serial number with a detachable 15 inch rifle barrel shotgun is safely under my bed.

[/ QUOTE ]

You got one too? [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[ncboiler]

[ QUOTE ]

i think many conservatives and southern baptists even feel that way.



[/ QUOTE ]

I live in NC so I am surrounded by Southern Baptists I can tell you that they wonder aloud why this is even an issue. They feel pretty much like the rest of us. There are more important issues and the government has no business in the matter. It's not going to score many brownie points with them. Myself. I have votd for exacly one Democrate in my life. I am voting straight ticket Dem this time. I'm not ready to go over to the darkside yet but sometimes in order to rebuild a house you have to tear down the old one.

[ncboiler]

[ QUOTE ]
Let me start by saying that I'm an avid poker player online and I hate Bill Frist. I believe in a small government that shouldn't be telling me how to spend my money.

THat said, I understand the reasoning behind the ban. Poker does not contribute positively to society. While it may be a game of skill, it is still a dangerous way that could potentially lose a great deal of money immediately. Comparing it to something like horseracing isn't fair, as horse races are not something you could blow your fortune on every day with the click of a mouse... for one thing, horse races aren't held every day.
It's also unfair to compare gambling to investing in the stock market. Investing in the stock market helps our economy by providing capital for companies that provide us goods and services. Any similar connection with poker would be tenuous at best. Even skill-less forms of gambling such as the lottery benefit local school systems.

Again, I don't think it's any of the government's business how we spend out money, but pretending that poker is a positive aspect of society is a stretch. Professional poker players aren't really contributing much of anything to society.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't do the horse racing thing but I have looked into doing it merely for entertainment value. I am pretty sure you can find a horse race to bet on 365 days a year. Yes you can blow your wad on this.

The positive value of poker: It is one of the few segments in the US economy where we may have a trade surplus.

[Thremp]

[ QUOTE ]
The positive value of poker: It is one of the few segments in the US economy where we may have a trade surplus.

[/ QUOTE ]

Pointless.

[ncboiler]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
The positive value of poker: It is one of the few segments in the US economy where we may have a trade surplus.

[/ QUOTE ]

Pointless.

[/ QUOTE ]

I was being sarcastic

[aislephive]

[ QUOTE ]
Let me start by saying that I'm an avid poker player online and I hate Bill Frist. I believe in a small government that shouldn't be telling me how to spend my money.

THat said, I understand the reasoning behind the ban. Poker does not contribute positively to society. While it may be a game of skill, it is still a dangerous way that could potentially lose a great deal of money immediately. Comparing it to something like horseracing isn't fair, as horse races are not something you could blow your fortune on every day with the click of a mouse... for one thing, horse races aren't held every day.
It's also unfair to compare gambling to investing in the stock market. Investing in the stock market helps our economy by providing capital for companies that provide us goods and services. Any similar connection with poker would be tenuous at best. Even skill-less forms of gambling such as the lottery benefit local school systems.

Again, I don't think it's any of the government's business how we spend out money, but pretending that poker is a positive aspect of society is a stretch. Professional poker players aren't really contributing much of anything to society.

[/ QUOTE ]

Simply put, this line of logic does not work. America is a free country, and nothing you do has to contribute to society.

Besides that, the internet gambling ban is extremely hypocritical as we all know. Blackjack, craps, slots, etc all are games of 100% luck with an edge to the house and are allowed in casinos everywhere. Every day people blow money on the lottery where they have no edge, both online and off. Horse racing, fantasy football, etc. is all allowed as well. The only difference between all of these things and online poker is that the U.S. gets nothing from it. The ban is about money and money only. Clearly it has nothing to do with morals, and if it did then that would be unconstitutional. Seperation of church and state rings a bell there. You can not claim to be a country of freedom and then tell people what they can and can not do in their own homes. If people have gambling problems, they will just go gamble in their local casino or with a bunch of buddies, that's all there is to it.