I don't believe the constitution says anything specifically about gambling. It does not guarantee a right to self-destructive behaviors that have a major negative impact on society, be it the use of illegal drugs, gambling, prostitution or other vices that are rightly illegal in most states.
"I don't believe the constitution says anything specifically about gambling. It does not guarantee a right to self-destructive behaviors that have a major negative impact on society, be it the use of illegal drugs, gambling, prostitution or other vices that are rightly illegal in most states."
WOW!!!! You just DESTROYED your own argument.
There's a little thing called the 10th amendment. Maybe you need to go back and actually READ it.
I believe it states something similar to "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people. "
So, the federal government had NO right to do what they did. It's illegal, but because you like it, and it goes to your morality which you, just like the Taliban, want to impose on others, decided that it's a good law.
Time to learn about how things REALLY are.
Sheesh.
Many of the Founders were opposed to adding a Bill of Rights to the Constitution, fearing that it would be twisted into an assertion that we only have the rights that are specifically enumerated. Madison added the Tenth Amendment, confident that it would dispel any such notions. You see determined to prove him wrong.
You're right about one thing. The Constitution doesn't say anything about drugs, gambling, prostitution or any other vices. If it doesn't say anything about them then it cannot enumerate a federal power over them. If a power is not enumerated, then the federal government does not hold that power, it remains with the States.
People do all sorts of things for fun. Some like to go out to the movies. Some like to go out to dinner. Some like to have a few beers at a bar with friends. Some like to play a little poker. Lighten up!
Are you asserting that only those behaviors explicitly mentioned in the Constitution should be legal?
Well, that's your first problem. The Constitution does not grant rights, it affirms them.
"I don't believe the constitution says anything specifically about gambling."
You're correct. It doesn't. And, given those pesky amendments (9 and 10), THAT means that the government does NOT have any legitimate authority to legislate in these areas, period. Remember, the Constitution for the United States puts limits on GOVERNMENT and its authority, NOT on We, The People. It would help you immensely in life if you keep that one simple fact in mind. If you read the Founding Documents, you can't escape the conclusion that the Government has no more LEGITIMATE authority than each individual has... that is, since the Constitution is a compact made by We, the People, to grant the government authority to do certain things in our names and on our behalf, and since we cannot give up something that is NOT OURS TO GIVE, there simply cannot be any authority LEGITIMATELY granted to government to do all this evil that YOU want done to other people.
And, I suspect, you are going to say that you're a fundamentalist, Bible-believing Christian. So just WHERE does Jesus tell His people to get government to pass laws outlawing SIN? Please be specific. (Oh, that's right, you CAN'T. He didn't.) He told his apostles and disciples (you and me) to go forth and be examples, spreading His word. He NEVER ONCE suggested getting the government to do OUR work for us. I defy you to show me where He did. In so many words.