Washington Votes

2007 House Bill 1243 (Providing an affirmative defense to unlawful internet gambling if the defendant committed the offense in his or her primary residence.)

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  • Introduced by Rep. Chris Strow on January 15, 2007, to allow an affirmative defense for an individual charged with illegal on-line gambling. The individual would have to prove he or she committed the violation on a “recreational” basis in his or her home.
    • Referred to the House Commerce & Labor Committee on January 15, 2007.

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Comments

Introduced by Rep. Chris Strow on January 15, 2007. New Comment

1) Margarita Prentice [by Anonymous Citizen on August 15, 2008]
Margarita Prentice sponsored the original SB6613 bill. She has numerous backers in the casino industry in this state and only passed the law for her special interest gurus. ELECT HERE OPPONENT JUAN MARTINEZ FOR STATE SENATE!
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2) This appears to have passed!!!! [by Anonymous Citizen on April 23, 2007]
There is a copy of 'as passed by legislature' attached to this bill. I'm not sure how this came about, but HOOOOORAH!
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3) It did not pass [by Anonymous Citizen on April 26, 2007]
'Bill as passed by legislature' is no longer on the legislative website. It must have been a workroom error. This bill did not pass.
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4) This is much better than [by Anonymous Citizen on March 16, 2007]
HB 2127 or 2320!
Why isn't this progressing through the legislature?!?
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5) Needing HB 1243 [by Anonymous Citizen on February 8, 2007]
It is ridiculous that we need this bill, but we do. It shouldn't be against the law (and a *felony* at that) to do something on your computer that you are allowed to drive somewhere *in our state* and do!

What could the legislature's rationale possibly be to not pass this bill?
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6) Help pass HB 1243 [by Anonymous Citizen on February 7, 2007]
Here are the e-mail adresses of the members of the House Commerce and Labor Commitee who need to be written to. The first one listed is the chairman, who decides if the Bill is given a hearing. He is our main target. Write to him if first, and if you get a chance, as many of the others as you can.

conway.steve@leg.wa.gov
wood.alex@leg.wa.gov
condotta.cary@leg.wa.gov
chandler.bruce@leg.wa.gov
crouse.larry@leg.wa.gov
green.tami@leg.wa.gov
moeller.jim@leg.wa.gov
williams.brendan@leg.wa.gov


Thanks!

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7) Support this bill [by Anonymous Citizen on February 3, 2007]
Take some time out of your day, and do whatever it takes to get this bill through. Write to your congressman, call the members of the House Commerce and Labor committee, notify news agencies. Just do whatever you can think of.
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8) Poker Legislation [by Anonymous Citizen on February 2, 2007]
It is apparently the opinion of at least a lawmaker or two in Washington, that the United States has outlawed online poker, which is not at all the case. The United States has specifically forbid federal banks from processing transactions involving online gambling, in states where online gambling is already illegal.

That is a huge difference.

By allowing the play of poker online to become illegal in the state of Washington, the Washington lawmakers have specifically stripped a significant number of people of a right. And for what reason? If it's for the good of the people, then Personal Responsibility has surrendered in your state, and it has become a nanny state. Outlawing poker is akin to outlawing comic books.

This bill makes a positive step in the direction of UNdoing the very badly worded law that made it illegal for people to login to a poker site and play cards online with other players.


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9) Let 'em Know! [by Anonymous Citizen on February 1, 2007]
After SB6613 was snuck through last year, and all of the DOJ antics relating to online gaming that are going on this year, let your representatives in Olympia know how you feel about this bill! Nobody should be sitting back and 'hoping' that his passes. Get on the phone, send out email, let 'em know!
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10) HB 1243 [by Anonymous Citizen on February 1, 2007]
I agree - don't sit back - we need numbers to let the legislature *know* our opinion on this!
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11) Let 'em know! [by Anonymous Citizen on February 1, 2007]
After SB6613 was snuck through last year, and all of the DOJ antics relating to online gaming that are going on this year, let your representatives in Olympia know how you feel about this bill! Nobody should be sitting back and 'hoping' that his passes. Get on the phone, send out email, let 'em know!
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12) Support HB 1243 [by Anonymous Citizen on February 1, 2007]
It needs to get a committee hearing - go see the press release on Rep. Strow's website, then call your legislators!
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13) I sure hope this passes [by Anonymous Citizen on January 31, 2007]
I will say -- the stronger this is made, the better. Why should it be limited to one's own home, for instance? Or if I install equipment and my wife uses it, I don't see why that should be a felony, either.

So this is a great start. I hope it is "watered up" and passed.
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14) HB 1243 Being Watered Down not up [by Anonymous Citizen on February 19, 2007]
Ridiculous - but go look at HB 2127. Instead of giving HB 1243 any public hearing at all - they water it down into HB 2127. All because of controlling legislators like Senator Prentice and Representative Conway!!! Why can't they get their holier than thou noses out of other people's business!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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15) A step forward [by Anonymous Citizen on January 31, 2007]
Maybe people understand the futility of trying to "Ban the Internet". I can't believe that SB 6613 went through - and I hope that this bill helps reduce the negatives of it.


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16) Take back our rights is correct!!! [by Anonymous Citizen on January 31, 2007]
This is a good fix for the huge mistake of making online gambling a felony. There was *no* good rationale for that. Are people who play poker online for quarters in their house really as bad as child pornographers and are they worse than people with multiple DUI's? I don't think so! Yet our state's government voted to make them so. Let's fix this - everybody who can should contact their legislators and let them know to support this bill!



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17) A great start towards taking back our rights [by Anonymous Citizen on January 29, 2007]
Our state shouldn't tell us how we can and can't spend our hard earned $ or how to spend our leisure time.

Thanks to all the legislators who supported this bill!!


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18) Internet gambling [by Anonymous Citizen on January 28, 2007]
I just discovered the existance of the new Washington State law prohibiting online gambling. I am shocked, sickened and literally dumbfounded at the audacity of politicians who imagine that they are somehow qualified to pass moral judgements on the private lives of U. S. citizens!
WHY? Besides the graft paid by the Indian casinos and the horse racing industry, I can not even see what you self-serving people gained from all this!
Where does it stop? Are you going to start telling us what color shoes we can wear?
One of these days, you people will dicover that, contrary to what someone may have told you...you are not God!
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