Three Things We Can Do About The Court Ruling on Sports Betting

Gambling, ,

On Monday the U.S. Supreme Court ruled states can legalize sports betting.

The decision sets the stage for states like Arkansas to become awash in a sea of gambling. State law already generally prohibits betting on ballgames and other sporting events, but gambling interests likely will start lobbying heavily to have those laws changed.

Some of our friends are asking what they can do about this court ruling. Here are three things:

1. Oppose Casino Amendments in Arkansas

At least two constitutional amendments legalizing casino gambling in Arkansas are vying for a spot on the November ballot. Casino proposals rejected in the past would have allowed any form of gambling that is legal in Nevada.

Sports betting is legal in Nevada right now. If our laws let casinos in Arkansas offer the same forms of gambling that casinos in Las Vegas offer, then that would include sports betting.

Opposing any casino amendments in Arkansas is one way we can ensure sports betting doesn’t work its way into our state.

2. Encourage the Legislature to Oppose Sports Betting

The racetracks at Oaklawn and Southland already offer casino-style games, and last December consultants for the State of Arkansas floated the idea of letting them offer sports betting as well.

We need to encourage our legislators not to authorize sports betting at Oaklawn or Southland.

3. Encourage Our U.S. Senators and Congressmen to Regulate Sports Betting

The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling struck down a federal law that effectively gave Las Vegas a monopoly on sports betting in America, but it left the door open for Congress to restrict and regulate sports betting through other federal laws. All four professional sports leagues — the NBA, NFL, National Hockey League, and Major League Baseball — as well as the NCAA oppose sports betting.

We need to encourage our congressmen to regulate sports betting as much as they possibly can.

Here’s Why We Need to Oppose Sports Betting

Sports betting in particular poses a problem, because of its appeal to young people who are more likely to develop a gambling problem.

Sports betting also threatens to undermine the integrity of collegiate and professional sports. Many sports programs work hard to maintain family-friendly environments that young and old alike can enjoy. Sports betting threatens to corrupt those family-friendly programs. That is one reason so many leagues have opposed efforts to legalize sports betting.

As a whole, gambling is a blight on the community. It is linked to homelessness, domestic violence, divorce, and a host of other issues. Problem gambling and gambling addiction tear families apart. Arkansas already has enough trouble from gambling. We don’t need any more.

Photo Credit: The original uploader was Bobak at English Wikipedia (Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons.) [CC BY-SA 2.5 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons

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Americans Trying to Redefine Morality

Current Events,

In April the American Culture and Faith Institute released a study regarding Americans’ attitudes about morality. The study shows the nation’s adults have radically redefined moral behavior related to family matters.

Most respondents said there was nothing morally objectionable about divorce, premarital sex, out-of-wedlock birth, or using pornography.

Additionally, 28% said polygamy was not objectionable, either.

The study also found born again Christians were much less likely to approve of divorce, premarital sex, and the other behaviors the survey covered. However, many Christians still considered these behaviors acceptable.

People may try to change morality, but they cannot change reality. The moral principles found in scripture still produce the best results.

As Charisse Dean recently outlined in a video, the best way to avoid poverty is to finish high school; then get married; then have children; and then stay married. Following those steps in that order virtually guarantees a family never will live in poverty. Premarital sex, divorce, and out-of-wedlock birth increase the risk of poverty.

There’s a reason some states have classified pornography as a public health crisis. Psychologist Dr. James Dobson writes, “Pornography is a social toxin that destroys relationships, steals innocence, erodes compassion, breeds violence, and kills love.” Simply saying a poison is harmless doesn’t make it harmless.

The same goes for polygamy. Women have never been respected, much less treated equally, in cultures where polygamy is practiced, and scripture makes it clear polygamy is not part of God’s plan for marriage (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:6; Mark 10:6-9; Titus 1:6; 1 Timothy 3:2). Shrugging at polygamy won’t change the harm it causes.

Bottom line: Redefining morality is dangerous business, and it carries serious consequences. You can read more about the ACFI study here.

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Group Receives $75,000 Donation to Fight Issue One

News,

Below is a press release from our public policy partner, Family Council Action Committee, regarding a contribution it received exclusively for its campaign against Issue 1. As you may know, Family Council Action Committee is a separate organization from Family Council.  We appreciate our friends across the state who are helping Family Council fight abortion, and do all the other good work we have always done. Contributions Family Council Action Committee receives to oppose Issue 1 do not help fund Family Council’s work fighting abortion, promoting religious liberty, defending marriage, or assisting home schoolers.  Family Council needs your ongoing financial support to enable us to continue doing all the good work you have known us for over the past 30 years.

On Tuesday Family Council Action Committee announced it had received a gift of $75,000 from Little Rock attorneys Mike Rainwater and Bob Sexton to fight Issue One.

Family Council Action Committee Executive Director Jerry Cox said, “In March, we announced our Seven Point Plan for defeating Issue One. This donation helps us implement that plan. We plan to rally faith leaders, mobilize a statewide grassroots network, send direct mail, conduct speaking engagements, do media interviews, distribute voter’s guides, and get out the vote.”

Cox said the donation will help his group maximize its effectiveness in opposing Issue One. “This does not change our plan one bit, but it does enable us to do more of what we are already doing. We devised a seven point plan against Issue One that works with any amount of money. This gift will enable us to reach more people with the message that Issue One is bad tort reform that puts a dollar value on human life. As a pro-life organization we know that every human life is priceless.”

Mike Rainwater said, “As attorneys we believe Issue One is wrong for Arkansas for many reasons, but as Christians who believe in the importance of a Biblical worldview and as two men who are devoted to supporting efforts that align with and promote the Christian faith, we were especially touched and appreciative of the Family Council Action Committee’s work on this issue. As soon as we heard of their stance, we knew we had to be supportive.”

Cox said he has actively opposed proposals like Issue One for 15 years. “Family Council Action Committee has opposed this type of bad tort reform as far back as 2003. Over the past 30 years thousands of people have donated to our work. This is the latest in a long line of gifts from people who believe in our mission and want us to be successful.”

Cox said he wants to help Arkansans understand Issue One and its unintended consequences. “Issue One is a proposed state constitutional amendment referred to the ballot by the Arkansas General Assembly. If passed in November, it will change how injury lawsuits are handled by capping non-economic damages at $500,000, limiting attorney fees, and letting the legislature restrict the types of evidence that can be considered in injury lawsuits.

“Critics of the measure say it ties the hands of juries by limiting their ability to award damages for suffering in case of extreme abuse, neglect, or death in nursing homes and in other cases. Letting the legislature set the rules of evidence could create a situation where business interests persuade lawmakers to declare so much evidence off-limits that people who have been seriously injured or the family members of those who have been killed can’t muster enough admissible evidence to build a case against the perpetrator.”

Cox said his group has supported responsible tort reform measures and is ready to support new responsible measures, but believes Issue One simply goes too far. “There is good tort reform and there is bad tort reform. Issue One is bad tort reform, because it puts a dollar value on human life.”

Family Council Action Committee is a conservative 501(c) (4) organization based in Little Rock, Arkansas.

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