{"id":1904,"date":"2006-06-16T12:31:00","date_gmt":"2006-06-16T18:31:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lordandrei.com\/blog\/?p=1904"},"modified":"2006-06-16T12:31:00","modified_gmt":"2006-06-16T18:31:00","slug":"class-c-felonies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.lordandrei.com\/blog\/2006\/06\/16\/class-c-felonies\/","title":{"rendered":"Class C Felonies"},"content":{"rendered":"

Caveat: This was posted on my behalf by request by someone who has electronic access to post on my behalf from outside Washington state without my password. I did not actually make this post. But the person didn’t have my password so I am not in violation of Washington State Law or LJ Terms of Service<\/i><\/font><\/p>\n

If you haven’t heard by now, the Washington state gov’t rushed thru a law transforming not only any gambling on the internet, but summarily any discussion of wagers or gambling information.<\/p>\n

By rushed thru I mean
\nJanuary 17 : the law was proposed
\nFebruary 3: Senate Labor Commitee added: knowingly transmitting<\/b> or receiving wagers or other gambling information<\/b><\/i>
\nFebruary 14: passed bi-partisan with no opposing votes in the Senate
\nMarch 2: passed bi-partisan 93-5 in the House (now looping in i-net sales of Lottery tickets)
\nMarch 28: Signed into law by the Governor.<\/p>\n

That is 86 days to write and pass a law. Remember that the next time your unemployed worker benefits run out.<\/p>\n

Just to put it in perspective.. here is what a class C felony is in Washington
\nBestiality
\nassault on a child in the third degree
\ncustodial sexual misconduct in the first degree
\nthird degree rape
\nfour DUI’s in seven years
\nsecond degree assault
\nsex and labor trafficking
\nunlawful taking on endangered fish and wildlife
\nrobbery (1 count)
\nanimal fighting abuse.<\/p>\n

The penalty for a class C felony is:<\/p>\n

60 months in prison and a $10,000 fine.<\/p>\n

You can now add to that:
\na 25 cent bet on PartyPoker<\/p>\n

Granted, some might argue the penalty is more appropriate for going “all-in” before the flop with less than a pair of jacks in PartyPoker $5 + .50 tournament.<\/p>\n

That being said…<\/p>\n

Doesn’t this smack just a little of thought crime and violation of the right to free speech?<\/p>\n

Edit<\/b>: Ironically, no one from Washington can actually comment on this post as that would be an example of discussing Gambling in the state and they would be liable for a Class C felony.<\/p>\n

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