Letter: Gambling panel news not new

Thursday, Nov. 19, 1998 | 11:36 a.m.

John Shosky's testimony that $88 billion is gambled illegally on sporting events each year is certainly not a new revelation. Gambling on sports has been going on legally or illegally since the beginning of sports.

NBC sportscaster Bob Costas' testimony was indeed a story of unpleasant circumstance, but to deny the millions of people not addicted the privilege of pursuing their love of gambling is un-American and unconstitutional.

Smoking is legal and people are addicted. Alcohol is legal and people are addicted. Is the answer to these problems criminalization? I don't think so. If we are to allow this concept to prevail, then sex, too, would be declared illegal because some people are addicted. History will tell you that declaring a substance or activity illegal just creates criminals.

It seems that domestic enemies in the District of Columbia are bent on making everyone a criminal, giving them a good reason to declare martial law for complete communist control. Think about it.

Jim Lee