The expressed opinions or views of this letter does not necessarily represent the opinion of the MiddletownMike blog:
Dear Editor,
New Jersey has made a critical error in its recent quest to circumvent federal law and legalize sports betting in the state.
New Jersey has sought to sidestep a federal court decision prohibiting the state from moving forward with the legalization of sports betting, which is illegal in the entire U.S., aside from Delaware, Oregon, Montana and Nevada, states that had already had laws allowing for the practice grandfathered when the federal ban, The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992, came into effect in 1993.
New Jersey has now decriminalized sports betting at the state level for casinos and racetracks, but anyone else engaged in the practice still faces state-level criminal penalties.
Either the state is using other gaming licenses as de facto sports betting licenses which is illegal under federal law or New Jersey is violating the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution by allowing some to engage in sports betting while criminalizing others.
If it is legal under state law for a New Jersey racetrack or casino to engage in sports betting operations, then it is unconstitutional under the equal protection clause of the U.S Constitution for the state to continue criminalizing regular citizens doing the same thing, barring a change in federal law.
Someone facing sports betting charges in New Jersey should make a motion to dismiss their charges based on this constitutional violation and set a precedent.
Eric Hafner
Toms River,
Showing posts with label decriminalize. Show all posts
Showing posts with label decriminalize. Show all posts
Sunday, January 18, 2015
Letter: NJ Gun Laws
The expressed opinions or views of this letter does not necessarily represent the opinion of the MiddletownMike blog:
Dear Editor,
New Jersey’s ultra-strict gun laws have far too often left both visitors and residents who have made minor mistakes in compliance facing serious criminal charges.
The Legislature should create a new decriminalized, civil offense in New Jersey to encompass any unintentional gun law violation with a maximum penalty of a $100 fine, with use of the civil statute in lieu of an indictable criminal charge at the discretion of the county prosecutor.
Let's put some common sense into our gun laws by separating mistakes from crimes.
Eric Hafner
Toms River
Dear Editor,
New Jersey’s ultra-strict gun laws have far too often left both visitors and residents who have made minor mistakes in compliance facing serious criminal charges.
The Legislature should create a new decriminalized, civil offense in New Jersey to encompass any unintentional gun law violation with a maximum penalty of a $100 fine, with use of the civil statute in lieu of an indictable criminal charge at the discretion of the county prosecutor.
Let's put some common sense into our gun laws by separating mistakes from crimes.
Eric Hafner
Toms River
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