Sure it is, but that's not the point. Just because something is a crime doesn't make it wrong. I don't give points for enforcement of stupid laws. I'm not going to compliment the people who rounded up the Japanese during WWII for example (not to compare the two).
So if some Hollywood actors had a game (and some do), would that count as a "home game"? The pot is well over $1000 I'm sure. I don't know what the line is, so I won't go and try and draw one. I don't know how reputable the people running this operation are. Then again, I wasn't there. If I was, I would want to know, I'd feel it was my responsibility to worry about that. And if I found out I was lied to, then I'd have a case for fraud. Helping slaves escape in the 1850's was a violation of the law as I recall. Not turning in Jews during 1930's Germany was probably a violation of the law too. Those weren't real crimes. Real crimes are where someone infringes on my, or anyone else's person or property without permission. People playing in a poker game doesn't meet that criteria for me.
Barney Fife: Well, I guess to sum it up, you could say, there's three reasons why there's so little crime in Mayberry. There's Andy, and there's me, and [patting gun] baby makes three.
"Wrong" is a relative term; "legal" is not. And please, stop trying to make it sound like it was just a bunch of neighbors sitting around for nickel poker.
Correct. Legality and morality are independent measures which, unfortunately, too often have little in common. There are ways to arrange for such as this to be legal. Its no different than a bowling league, dart league, pool league, with prizes. All they have to do is jump through a few hoops and it can be called a tournament.
Allowing mafia-run gambling enterprises has the same moral imperative as sitting at an integrated lunch counter.
Well thank God for small favors. When you start a thread about one of those games getting busted, we can talk about that. Until then, you clearly were trying to bullshit people by describing this particular game as a "home game." I swear, it's a job keeping you on point. Source/link?
it has a lot to do with the federal tax code. any cash transactions in 5 figures must be reported. a big reason, also, is money laundering (while the gov't is always trying to get their take, they are also trying to stop illegal activity). but, i don't really see how one can be upset about this whole issue. it was 71 f*king people. not exactly your tuesday night game with your three best friends. the laws in your state say such activity is illegal. the cops stopped that activity. if you don't like it, elect somebody who will make gambling on this scale legal.
Clever of you to clip my point about it being SEVENTY ONE PEOPLE, many of who traveled in from out of state expressly to play. "High stakes" is a relative term, obviously. "Underground poker casino" is not. If the gaming industry is unregulated, how are you going to prove your fraud case? And how are you going to know if they are "reputable" or not? So... blackmail is legal? Libel? Slander? I think opposing gaming regulation is just ridiculous. If the issue is policy towards the legal status of gaming... that's a different issue, with an entirely different set of concerns.
I would argue that legalizing gambling nationwide would take organized crime out of the picture. It's just like the drug trade--the reason there's so much drug-related crime is because the manufacturers and distributers are criminals. That said, it's clear Matt B overreacted here. There are laws against underground casinos, and this was one. Or maybe the police should give up on enforcing laws against stealing until we've ended rape and murder.
I would just like to point out to people who don't know NC geography that this game was pretty far from the next state. It's not like it was, say, 20 miles north of Greensboro, and thus just over the border from Virginia. In case anyone was wondering.
As I have pointed out in the past (and I guess I'll have to point out over and over), I happen to think that government has a role in the area of natural disasters that occur in this country. As a Libertarian I will always complain about government. Especially when they engage in activities that curtail freedom. Of course it's not just the passing of laws, as I pointed out in the initial post, statists always want to use the force of government (that means using enforment/jails) to control behavior in others. You dont like people gambling? Use the threat of jail to make people stop. You dont like it when some people get rich? Pass confiscatory and illogical tax laws and use the threat of jail. Statists like you love controlling the behavior of others. You were much better when you were counting dead soldiers. One soldier at a time...
So a bunch of guys organize a casino in knowing disregard of the law, get busted for it, and I'm supposed to feel bad about the police enforcing the law? WTF?
You just contradicted yourself. You are assuming that the only reason people would want gambling to be illegal is because they personally "don't like it." That's obviously not true if you think about it for a minute. I don't like to murder people (it's just my job, I take no joy in it) but I still want murder to be illegal. The reasons have nothing to do with what I personally enjoy.
Come on Dave. Do better. There are different shades of libertarian out there. It is not a black and white philosophy Is the person that you are mudering a willing participant? That's obviously not true if you think about it for a minute.