Poker Players Alliance launches petition against RAWA

American online poker fans have been provided with a vehicle to express their opposition to a federal ban on the pastime in the form of a petition launched by the Poker Players Alliance, an action group with a membership of over a million players and fans.

The federal banning proposal in question is the Restoration of the American Wire Act recently re-introduced to Congress by Utah Republican Rep. Jason Chaffetz at the behest of land gambling baron Sheldon Adelson (see previous reports).

Getting off to a fast start in this Congressional session, RAWA will be the subject of a hearing before the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security and Investigations in Washington DC on Thursday morning.

The PPA is emphasising the danger RAWA represents to the right of states to decide on what they approve or do not approve when it comes to intrastate gambling, and the threat to players’ right of choice.

The petition, titled “All In For Liberty” asserts:

“We the undersigned oppose federal efforts to ban Internet poker across America. In doing so, Congress would trample on the personal liberties of adult Americans while simultaneously stripping states of their Tenth Amendment right to governance within their respective borders.

“We oppose any legislation that would seek to override state laws and stifle Internet freedom by shuttering the existing online gaming markets established in Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware or that would prevent the remaining states from implementing similar systems.

“Therefore, we strongly oppose Representative Jason Chaffetz’s (R-Utah) legislation, the Restoration of America’s Wire Act (H.R. 707), introduced in the U.S. House to ban online poker and other online betting in all 50 states.

“This legislation would not only trample on the rights of states and individuals, but would deny consumers meaningful protections.

“I am signing this petition to ask Congress to reject this harmful legislation, to respect personal liberties, and to uphold the political powers reserved for the States as guaranteed by the Tenth Amendment.”

Players wishing to throw their weight behind the PPA drive to convince politicians that a ban is not a good idea can find the petition here: http://theppa.org/cpac/petition/.

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