Why gambling just for Hot Springs and West Memphis?

[johnnydr87]

There is no reason for argument. It really is as simple as ABC.

1. Does it matter what it costs the taxpayers? We're paying it to the other states and paying more taxes to pay for things that could be provided at a much lower cost if there were large casinos.

2. We spend money on what we see fit, whether it be at a casino, at an arcade, or by purchasing expensive clothing we can't really afford. We'd actually save money by having casinos here, because we'd save gas money. If we go broke at a casino, then we'd be just as likely to go broke on a shopping trip we can't afford.

3. I don't buy the crap that crime is higher BECAUSE of casinos in casino communities. There are way too many factors, to be attributing it to one certain venue of entertainment....the fact is more people = more crime whether it be around casinos, or at a mall...that is what security is for.

4. IF WE ARE GOING TO SPEND OUR MONEY AT CASINOS, IT MIGHT AS WELL BE IN OUR OWN STATE WHERE WE WILL BENEFIT FROM IT.

You took a completely different perspective from what I'm used to. Interesting.

[mcheiss]

Amen, amen. Thankyou for mentioning this. More people will equal more crime, not casinos.

You can also add that Arkansans are going to gamble if they really want to. The majority are going over to Miss., Lousiana, and Oklahoma because they want to. If any of you have been to the Cherokee Casino in West Siloam Springs, Oklahoma you can look through the parking lot and about 80% of the vehicles are from Arkansas.

As well, the Pocola Casino is building a parking lot in Arkansas for it's Arkansas Gamblers that suppose be several hundred spaces. The Pocola Casino is literally right across the border.

[Mith242]

As well, the Pocola Casino is building a parking lot in Arkansas for it's Arkansas Gamblers that suppose be several hundred spaces. The Pocola Casino is literally right across the border.

That's been my argument all along. It's not like people aren't gambling already. You've already have glambling taking place not far from the Arkansas border from numerous sides. I think we all know people are going across the border to gamble. Many areas of Arkansas have quick access to gambling already. To use Ft Smith as an example, how can a casino 'ruin' Ft Smith when there's already a casino just across the border? Shouldn't the city already experiancing all the negative aspects of gambling already? If that's the case I don't see why we shouldn't allow a casino there and in some other locations. That way if people are going to gamble, which they are, they at least do it in our state borders and Arkansas gets the revenue from it instead of Oklahoma, Mississippi or Louisiana.

[Aporkalypse]

There is no reason for argument. It really is as simple as ABC.

1. Does it matter what it costs the taxpayers? We're paying it to the other states and paying more taxes to pay for things that could be provided at a much lower cost if there were large casinos.

2. We spend money on what we see fit, whether it be at a casino, at an arcade, or by purchasing expensive clothing we can't really afford. We'd actually save money by having casinos here, because we'd save gas money. If we go broke at a casino, then we'd be just as likely to go broke on a shopping trip we can't afford.

3. I don't buy the crap that crime is higher BECAUSE of casinos in casino communities. There are way too many factors, to be attributing it to one certain venue of entertainment....the fact is more people = more crime whether it be around casinos, or at a mall...that is what security is for.

4. IF WE ARE GOING TO SPEND OUR MONEY AT CASINOS, IT MIGHT AS WELL BE IN OUR OWN STATE WHERE WE WILL BENEFIT FROM IT.

I agree. We're pouring money into Louisiana and Mississippi schools and into their general economies. It doesn't stop anyone from going, there are buses full of them heading out of state.

[dimebag1980]

It's just like dry counties. Creating laws that keep businesses from serving alcohol in your county doesn't keep people from drinking. It's actually counter-productive, as it keeps your county from receiving additional tax dollars, all the while helping the next county over... the one that allows alcohol sales. This is the same principle as gambling.

[arkansas_buff]

It's just like dry counties. Creating laws that keep businesses from serving alcohol in your county doesn't keep people from drinking. It's actually counter-productive, as it keeps your county from receiving additional tax dollars, all the while helping the next county over... the one that allows alcohol sales. This is the same principle as gambling.

I appreciate everyone's thoughts on this, although I don't totally agree. I do, however want to dispell a myth that becoming a wet county somehow helps the county's economy...

Based on 2000 census, wet counties in AR saw an average of 7.4% population growth while dry counties in AR saw a 22% population increase.

As far as crime is concerned...

122% more murder in wet

96% more rape in wet

326% more robberies in wet

127% more aggravated assault in wet

61% more burglaries in wet

29% more thefts in wet

86% more motor vehicle thefts in wet

205% more arson in wet

Does being a wet county in AR actually increase the amount of drunk driving? Well... yes... by 30% according to the AR Dept of Health.

But don't wet counties get all that tax revenue from dry counties? Of course they do. They have to have it to pay for the additional law enforcement. 1 cop per 318 citizens in wet AR counties with only 1 per 501 citizens in dry AR counties.

If you want your county to be wet, that's cool. I just wanted to dispell the myth that it will create a better quality of life for your community.

[mcheiss]

Here's some statistics that I found. I think you'll be shocked.

From 2000 to 2004, 4. 2 people per 10, 000 population died in accidents involving an inebriated driver or pedestrian in the state

[neon9]

I appreciate everyone's thoughts on this, although I don't totally agree. I do, however want to dispell a myth that becoming a wet county somehow helps the county's economy...

Based on 2000 census, wet counties in AR saw an average of 7.4% population growth while dry counties in AR saw a 22% population increase.

As far as crime is concerned...

122% more murder in wet

96% more rape in wet

326% more robberies in wet

127% more aggravated assault in wet

61% more burglaries in wet

29% more thefts in wet

86% more motor vehicle thefts in wet

205% more arson in wet

Does being a wet county in AR actually increase the amount of drunk driving? Well... yes... by 30% according to the AR Dept of Health.

But don't wet counties get all that tax revenue from dry counties? Of course they do. They have to have it to pay for the additional law enforcement. 1 cop per 318 citizens in wet AR counties with only 1 per 501 citizens in dry AR counties.

If you want your county to be wet, that's cool. I just wanted to dispell the myth that it will create a better quality of life for your community.

326% more robberies? Per capita? Where do these numbers come from?

[skirby]

I appreciate everyone's thoughts on this, although I don't totally agree. I do, however want to dispell a myth that becoming a wet county somehow helps the county's economy...

Based on 2000 census, wet counties in AR saw an average of 7.4% population growth while dry counties in AR saw a 22% population increase.

As far as crime is concerned...

122% more murder in wet

96% more rape in wet

326% more robberies in wet

127% more aggravated assault in wet

61% more burglaries in wet

29% more thefts in wet

86% more motor vehicle thefts in wet

205% more arson in wet

Does being a wet county in AR actually increase the amount of drunk driving? Well... yes... by 30% according to the AR Dept of Health.

But don't wet counties get all that tax revenue from dry counties? Of course they do. They have to have it to pay for the additional law enforcement. 1 cop per 318 citizens in wet AR counties with only 1 per 501 citizens in dry AR counties.

If you want your county to be wet, that's cool. I just wanted to dispell the myth that it will create a better quality of life for your community.

In Sunday's Arkansas Democrat Gazette was an article about a five year study in Arkansas dealing with alcohol releated traffic deaths. It divided the state up into wet counties, dry counties and dry counties with no alcohol for sale. In wet counties the death rate per 10,000 was 4.2%. In dry counties the rate was 4.6% and in the dry counties where no alcohol can legally be sold the rate was 4.9%.

Also, before you start putting numbers out about the increase in population growth you should look at where the majority of wet counties in the state are. Most of the wet counties are in the Delta area of Eastern Arkansas. There could be other factors that make up the crime rates between wet and dry counties. I would venture to say that the majority of black people in the state live in wet counites. Maybe it is that black people cause an increase in the crime rate. Also, The cities in wet counties include Little Rock, Pine Bluff, Ft. Smith, Texarkana, Hot Springs, West Memphis and Fayetteville. Maybe it is not blacks that cause an increase in crime rates but urban areas. Urban areas require more police officers than rural areas. I do not think there are anymore police officers, based on population, in rural areas of the state dry or wet. As you can see putting the blame on alcohol for the ills of a community does not have standing. There are too many other factors except the one that your are more likely to die in an alcohol releated traffic accident if you live in a dry county.

[Aporkalypse]

In Sunday's Arkansas Democrat Gazette was an article about a five year study in Arkansas dealing with alcohol releated traffic deaths. It divided the state up into wet counties, dry counties and dry counties with no alcohol for sale. In wet counties the death rate per 10,000 was 4.2%. In dry counties the rate was 4.6% and in the dry counties where no alcohol can legally be sold the rate was 4.9%.

Also, before you start putting numbers out about the increase in population growth you should look at where the majority of wet counties in the state are. Most of the wet counties are in the Delta area of Eastern Arkansas. There could be other factors that make up the crime rates between wet and dry counties. I would venture to say that the majority of black people in the state live in wet counites. Maybe it is that black people cause an increase in the crime rate. Also, The cities in wet counties include Little Rock, Pine Bluff, Ft. Smith, Texarkana, Hot Springs, West Memphis and Fayetteville. Maybe it is not blacks that cause an increase in crime rates but urban areas. Urban areas require more police officers than rural areas. I do not think there are anymore police officers, based on population, in rural areas of the state dry or wet. As you can see putting the blame on alcohol for the ills of a community does not have standing. There are too many other factors except the one that your are more likely to die in an alcohol releated traffic accident if you live in a dry county.

These numbers make a lot of sense as well.

[skirby]

I appreciate everyone's thoughts on this, although I don't totally agree. I do, however want to dispell a myth that becoming a wet county somehow helps the county's economy...

Based on 2000 census, wet counties in AR saw an average of 7.4% population growth while dry counties in AR saw a 22% population increase.

As far as crime is concerned...

122% more murder in wet

96% more rape in wet

326% more robberies in wet

127% more aggravated assault in wet

61% more burglaries in wet

29% more thefts in wet

86% more motor vehicle thefts in wet

205% more arson in wet

Does being a wet county in AR actually increase the amount of drunk driving? Well... yes... by 30% according to the AR Dept of Health.

But don't wet counties get all that tax revenue from dry counties? Of course they do. They have to have it to pay for the additional law enforcement. 1 cop per 318 citizens in wet AR counties with only 1 per 501 citizens in dry AR counties.

If you want your county to be wet, that's cool. I just wanted to dispell the myth that it will create a better quality of life for your community.

I found on the web where you got your numbers. On thing interesting is the following statement: "Different crimes for different years were used for a better picture of the contrast. " Would this make the numbers slanted. One interesting number you did not show was the number of DUI's. There were only 29% more in wet counties. It looks as if this activity would be more releated to the use of alcohol than other crimes. I do not think a 29% increase is that great between wet and dry. How many good citizens from the dry counties where in this number?