RESOLUTION CONCERNING VIDEO POKER
OFFERED TO THE 2001 NORTH GEORGIA ANNUAL CONFERENCE
BY THE CONFERENCE BOARD OF LAITY

Whereas, the 2000 Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church, paragraph 163.G states that "gambling is a menace to society, deadly to the best interest of moral, social, economic and spiritual life, and destructive of good government", and

Whereas, video poker has been declared illegal in the State of South Carolina resulting in an influx of this particular gambling menace into the State of Georgia, especially in areas along the South Carolina border where those already victimized by video poker have ready access, and

Whereas, the presence of video poker in our State has produced documented increases in crime and causes significant hardship's upon the family, especially women and children, and

Whereas, proposed increased enforcement legislation of the current antigambling laws were passed by the Georgia Senate but failed to pass the entire legislature as a result of last minute political maneuvering,

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the North Georgia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church convened in Athens, Georgia, June, 2001, does hereby call on the Governor and Legislative officials to enact legislation to ban video poker in the State of Georgia at the earliest possible time, and

Be it further RESOLVED, that we call for the total and complete banning of video poker in our State as well as requiring increased enforcement of the current anti-gambling laws and providing stiffer fines/penalties for the illegal use of video poker and similar electronic games.

The above resolution was unanimously adopted by the Conference Board of Laity at it's May 15, 2001 meeting for introduction and offering to the North Georgia Annual Conference which will meet in Athens, Georgia on June 12 - 15, 2001.

 

<signed>Dick Williamson, Secretary

<signed>Joe N. Whittemore, Chair