Yesterday, FRC was treated to a Witherspoon Fellowship Lecture by William J. Bennett. If you weren't able to come in person, or missed the webcast, you can now view the video of the lecture below:
Note: The Witherspoon Fellowship is FRC's D.C.--based academic internship. If you're a college student or recent college graduate, and are interested in the Witherspoon Fellowship, you can find more information here.
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Full House Needed for Gambling Ban
Gambling may seem like harmless entertainment to some, but to others--like Army Warrant Officer Aaron Walsh--it holds a fatal attraction. When the decorated pilot was stationed overseas, he frequented the Army slot machines on military posts. The so-called "recreation" grew into a devastating addiction that cost Walsh his savings, his career, and, ultimately, his life. After losing $20,000, he went AWOL, only to be found gambling on a military base in Seoul, Korea. Walsh resigned his position with the Army, but efforts to reconcile with his wife and two young children were hampered by his inability to kick the habit. Overwhelmed, Walsh went to a state park in September of 2006 and shot himself. Fearing other soldiers will fall into the same trap, Rep. Lincoln Davis (D-Tenn.) introduced H.R. 4497, a bill that would ban all gambling devices on military bases. The Army currently raises about $130 million in net revenue from the $2 billion gambled annually in the 3,000 slot machines it operates abroad. While the Defense Department uses the money from the slots to pay for programs that boost troop morale, there are certainly safer options that do not encourage activities that put military families at risk. "[This] shouldn't be about exploiting our service personnel," Davis said. The legislation, which has been named in honor of the late officer Walsh, could be debated as early as today. Join us in urging your members to follow Rep. Davis's lead in supporting our troops where it matters most.
December 17, 2007 6:23 PM | Comment Permalink