Government intruding in our lives in Huntsville Alabama

I would like to relate a rather strange experience while attending the Huntsville Hamfest in Huntsville, AL yesterday. My friend Charles and I had walked through the dealer show and the flea market several times. It was nearing the end of the day and we sat down near the podium waiting for the drawing of prize winners.

They began drawing tickets from the barrel and calling the lucky hams (amateur radio operators) up to receive prizes. As the first winner approached, he was handed a large rubber ball and was then instructed to toss the ball in a large trash can about 3 feet away. When this was done he was handed the prize. This went on several more times. Charles and I watched in amazement.

Charles finally asked one of the locals in front of us what this was all about. We were told that there was a local ordinance prohibiting the awarding of prizes based on a game of chance and that all prizes had to be awarded rather by a game of skill, hence, before the winner could claim the prize, he/she had to skillfully throw the ball in a container 3 feet away. The local fellow told us that the new district attorney, Tim Morgan, was strictly enforcing the ordinance.

I told the local that if I were a citizen of Huntsville, I would see to it that the district attorney was voted out of office at the next opportunity. The local replied with, “Oh, he’s a good Baptist.” I let him know that it would make no difference; I would still vote him out.

Charles inquired if the local churches were prohibited from holding bingo games (a pure game of chance). The man declared that to his knowledge there was no prohibition against bingo. At that point you could see the look of amazement and bewilderment come over this man’s face.

“Sounds like a *%&#$% double standard to me!” declared Charles.

In a few minutes a one armed man was handed the ball. “They are making no provisions for the handicapped!” I exclaimed.

This, my friends, is what happens when we let government nit pick and intrude into every aspect of our lives. I guess this district attorney has nothing better to do than to worry if a few hams (who spend hours of their own time serving the community) win a few prizes. I guess the district attorney is too busy with this to chase down real criminals, child molesters, God forbid illegal aliens (aka. criminal invaders)!

But I guess since he is a “good Baptist” this makes it all okay.

DISCLAIMER: I have not read the ordinance and I do not know the district attorney. We were in the city of Huntsville, Madison County, Alabama, if you want to try and check it out.

Thomas Hamilton (Debbie’s Hubby)

NOTE: For more information on Amateur (Ham) Radio, visit ARRL.org, QRZ.com

Comments

[NOTR]

Blame the DA for enforcing rules the city council and the state passes seems out of place.

But at least you were not trying to deal in sex toys! Those cannot be legally sold in the state (now OK while the court case continues), because another "Good Baptist" wanted to protect the good citizens of the state from "sex."

[Thomas Hamilton]

I get sick and tired of other people deciding what's good for me.

As the Billy Joel song says:

I don't care what you say anymore, this is MY LIFE!

Go ahead with your own life, LEAVE ME ALONE!