Local News
Bill to outlaw bingo machines in Cullman dead
By Patrick McCrelessA bill to outlaw electronic bingo machines in Cullman County will not be brought up for a vote in the Alabama Legislature this session as first expected.
“It’s not going to be introduced,” said Rep. Jeremy Oden, sponsor of the bill. “Even if we introduced it today (Tuesday), we would not have enough time to pass it.”
The bill would likely have been introduced earlier had it not required some changes. Oden said when the bill was written, it did not state that county citizens would be allowed to vote on the issue.
“We had an amendment to put that into the bill,” Oden said. “If we ever do anything like that (outlawing gambling machines), it will be of a vote of the people. It will as long as I am around anyway.”
Currently, Cullman County has no law that would permit charitable bingo in the area. Under state law, bingo is allowed in Alabama, provided counties adopt a constitutional amendment authorizing recognized charities to conduct bingo for charity purposes. According to the Office of Attorney General Troy King’s web site, 13 counties have such an amendment.
In a previous article however, Oden noted the law makes no mention of electronic bingo machines. Due to the discrepancy in the law, Oden said many counties and municipalities have passed ordinances allowing the bingo machines, even some which have not passed constitutional amendments that permit charitable bingo.
Vinemont resident Robert George does not care if bingo machines are permitted in the county or not — he just wants citizens to decide the issue. Shortly after learning about the proposed bill, George began a petition demanding citizens be given the right to vote on the matter. Within days after leaving copies of the petition at several local businesses, George obtained more than 80 signatures.
“It’s all about our rights,” George said. “A lot of people died in wars to give us the right to vote. I think all people, not just Oden and a few others, has the right to vote on anything.”
Oden said he received many calls from local residents who were against the bill — most of whom were in favor of bingo gambling.
“I was shocked by the number of people who wanted gambling,” Oden said.
John Chambers, owner of Corky’s Automobile Performance Parts and Body Shop near Hanceville, had one of George’s petitions at his business and is in favor of bingo gambling in the area.
“The reason I would want it is if it brought any taxes to the county for the schools,” Chambers said.
Like George, Shelley Thomas of Good Hope also does not care if gambling is in the county or not, but added it could be more of a benefit than a harm.
“I’m not for it or against it, but anything to help schools or save teachers’ jobs,” Thomas said. “Schools do raffles, what is the difference?”
Thomas noted that the county might as well get some revenue from gambling since many Cullman residents are just going to Jasper, where bingo gambling is legal.
“If someone wants to gamble, they are going to do it,” Thomas said.
‰ Patrick McCreless can be reached by e-mail at patrickm@cullmantimes.com or by telephone at 734-2131 ext. 270.
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