Participation in State Lotteries and the Crime Bill

(Your Name)
(Your Address)
(Your Phone Number)

Dear (Your Congressman):

This letter is in response to the Senate Crime Bill, H.R. 3355 and its
ensuing measure Section 5109 on Interstate Wagering.  Passage of Section
5109 will make it a federal crime for a business (lottery ticket
subscription services) to act on behalf of a citizen to purchase lottery
tickets in states, where such purchases are legal.

Citizens who live near state borders, can and do cross state lines daily
to participate in state-operated lotteries, while citizens who reside in
the interior sections of a state rely on businesses such as the
subscription services.  Section 5109 is blatantly discriminatory because
it criminalizes access for some people while allowing access for others. 

Millions of people enjoy participating in various state lottery games. 
For most of us, this will no longer be possible if Section 5109 is
passed.  We, the people will lose our right to purchase other state's
tickets and the states will lose the additional generated revenue
realized from these sales.  While this amendment may not out-right
prohibit a citizens participation in another states lottery, it does
out-right prohibit the most, and in many cases, the only viable access
available.  Thus, the net effect of Section 5109 is paramount to an out-
right prohibition, and that is clearly a violation of individual freedom
of choice.  Lottery tickets from state-operated lotteries are legal
products.  A measure which prevents or burden consumers from purchasing
any legal product, whether the consumer makes the purchase himself or
hires the services of others to make the purchase on his behalf, can not
and should not be tolerated.    
 
Where participation in state-operated lotteries is considered a legal
activity, any amendment which block an out-of-state citizen's right to
access this legal product, is in of itself a crime.  Section 5109 is
such an amendment.  Section 5109 violates the Commerce Clause, the
Sherman Act and the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution.  
 
The crime bill should not be use to impede or stop the flow of legal
products or services.  Utilizing the services of others, i.e. ticket
subscription services, to participate in an activity in a state where
such activity is legal, is not a crime and no attempt should be made to
make it a crime.  Don't take away our right of access to a legal
product.  Please vote "NO" on Section 5109 of the crime bill.

Sincerely,




(Your Name)