zlacker

> People involved in gambling are not stupid.

I agree.

> Addicted to gambling in the same way someone is addicted to Tobacco

Addicted people are still responsible for their actions. case in point: drunken driving. I agree with punishing gamblers that cause harm. but gambling itself should not be regulated. Tobacco, alcohol, hard drugs,etc.. they should all be allowed. But to balance that, punishment for crime needs to be severe when you're an addict.

>>notepa+(OP)
> I agree with punishing gamblers that cause harm.

The first people gamblers harm is their own family - long before any formal crime has been committed.

>>Alexan+rg1
That's not right, many gamblers don't even have a family. Are you saying people's lives should be regulated so that they don't spend their money in ways that their family wouldn't want it spent? I mean, last I checked, divorce, emancipation is still allowed.

How can we regulate what a person does with their hard earned wages from their labor and precious time and then still claim that person has liberties of any kind? If you think about it, this is the one and only fundamental liberty that is foundational to all other liberties.

Even slaves get food and shelter as well as some freedom of movement and expression. What they don't get is to be able to buy what they want and own it.