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News / Opinion / Letters to the Editor

Letter: On casino, feds disregard state laws

The Columbian
Published: December 12, 2011, 4:00pm

The U.S. government has a double standard in regard to how it treats advertisements for illegal products and activity.

On the one hand, the government prosecuted Google for allowing illegal drug ads from Canadian pharmacies on its website.

On the other hand, the government does nothing to stop advertisements for tribal gambling casinos.

Nontribal casino gambling is illegal in most of the U.S., including Washington state. In the case of the proposed Cowlitz tribe casino in the La Center area, there is no functional reservation at that site. The right to allow a casino at the location was created out of thin air by unethical partnerships and officials. Many years ago, when gambling was first allowed on the Indian reservations, it was done only on established reservations that were usually in remote locations and had minimal impact on society.

Gambling is not protected by the Constitution, and states can make their own laws on this issue. The sole purpose of the site in La Center is for gambling. Federal officials have shown wanton disregard for the laws of Washington state.

I believe their behavior is unconstitutional. The federal government should not have the right to violate Washington state law at whim.

Stephen Franklin White

Vancouver

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