LETTERS: GAMBLING CONCERNS

To the editor:

The Missouri Gaming Commission was not established to circumvent the will and vote of the people, but that is exactly what they are doing, and this should be stopped by our legislators.

It is wrong that Missouri taxpayers should have to pay for the training and time of the Missouri State Highway Patrol to police the boats. However, it seems like a confession by some officials when they comment, "We need them." It's not only to protect the people who use the boats, but they want to make sure the state and cities get their cut of the take. The opponents in the riverboat election tried to draw a picture stressing everything that is now coming to pass, mainly that the riverboat owners and operators could not be trusted.

Now they have come up with ideas that none of us opponents thought of. I'm referring to news reports about wanting to destroy wetlands. It's hard to think that our Missouri Conservation Department would even consider selling out us sportsmen who have supported that department for years.

This is the most unbelievable part: That our legislators in Washington would permit the riverboats to fill in or destroy the wetlands, when a farmer cannot fill in his own wetland to raise crops or feed our country and the world.

Thank your for taking the time to read this and permitting me to share my opinion. I want to encourage each one of the Missouri legislators to vote against Senate Bill 839, which permits unlimited losses on the Missouri riverboats.

BENNY L. WHEELER

Scott City