Alabama Citizens Action Program (ALCAP) is calling the faith community to sign petitions, voicing its opposition to the expansion and taxation of gambling.
After learning of a poll indicating Alabamians are “opening up to gambling,” ALCAP Executive Director Joe Godfrey said his organization, which is dedicated to stopping predatory gambling in the state, had to find a way to counter it.
“We felt like if we could arm some of the legislators that are opposed to gambling with a petition signed by hopefully thousands of people, it would counter whatever polling they have come out with concerning people’s interest in that,” he said.
So Godfrey and his staff started a petition and made it available on ALCAP’s Web site (www.alcap.com). Individuals can sign and submit the petition directly on the site or print, distribute, sign and mail it to the ALCAP office at 2376 Lakeside Drive, Birmingham, AL 35244, as soon as possible.
At press time, more than 1,500 petitions had been received but many more were anticipated, Godfrey said.
“We hope to be able to communicate there are a lot of people in Alabama that are opposed to gambling instead of (having legislators) just listening to gambling lobbyists,” he said. “We want legislators to hear from the faith community, which, by far, is the largest representation there is. There are a lot more church members in Alabama than there are gamblers, so we want [legislators] to hear their side.”
Godfrey said he wants to continue to encourage Alabamians to contact their state representative or senator.
“We want to remind folks that taxing gambling will legitimize it. We don’t want to give legitimacy (to it),” Godfrey said. “We oppose taxation of it. We oppose expansion of it. We want to get rid of it in our state.”
To contact your state senator, call 334-242-7800, and to contact your state representative, call 334-242-7600. (TAB)
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