In 2006 the US Congress passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) to prohibit the sending and receiving of funds for the purpose of Internet wagering. This law has basically made the financial institutions in the U.S. the police for the Internet gambling industry.
The UIGEA is one of the worst infringements on personal liberty ever passed in the land of the free and the home of the brave. It ranks up there with the internment of Japanese Americans during WWII and the ability of the government to tap phones without court approvals.
Rep. Barney Frank (MA) has made several attempts to repeal the UIGEA unsuccessfully. Rep. Frank is the head of the Financial Services Committee and has great influence in matters regarding the banking system. Rep. Frank has called the UIGEA the "stupidest law ever passed in the history of our country". He is also a big proponent of individual freedoms. Rep. Frank introduced two Bills on May 6 - one aimed at repealing the UIGEA. and one to legalize, regulate and tax Internet gambling. The proposed legislation will regulate the Internet gambling industry which could make the government billions in tax revenue.
Signers of this petition applaud the efforts of Barney Frank and support both of these new pieces of legislation.
We the undersigned are writing to express the strong belief that we as Americans deserve the freedom to choose gambling in our own homes as a form of entertainment.
Legislation introduced by the Honorable Barney Frank from Masssachusetts is an enormous step towards legalizing and regulating Internet gambling. We support the effort being put forth by Mr. Frank to regulate Internet gambling, instead of continuing the same prohibition course that we are currently on.
We urge support of this legislation. Please take some time to review Mr. Frank's Bill and efforts on behalf of average Americans. Hopefully, this legislation will begin a change in the prohibitionist stance on Internet gambling that Washington has taken, resulting in the continued loss of our freedoms!
