Here we go again! Video bingo has found its way onto the Ferriday Board of Alderman agenda once again.

And once again, the board will face an overwhelming majority against video bingo. Can I remind you the last time this issue was brought before the Ferriday Board of Aldermen, there was standing room only inside and people were being turned away outside?

I am calling on all good people of Ferriday to make your voice heard one more time that we do not want this industry or any form of legalized gambling in the Town of Ferriday.

I am asking the board of aldermen and concerned citizens to go to the Internet www.overcominggambling.com. Please look at the statistics once more. Go to other available websites and read the horror stories of mothers leaving their babies in the car while they went in to gamble.

Read about one family member killing another over stealing money to gamble. Read about a son who lost his $70,000-a-year job to gambling addiction.

Read about employees stealing from their employer. Read about an increase of crime rate by 100 percent within a 30-mile radius of Atlantic City.

Read about the suicide rate being 20 times higher for the pathological gambler. Read about the rate of divorce being nearly double for that of the problem gambler. Read about countless families broken apart because of a parent gambling away their children’s inheritance. Read about the increased use of alcohol and drugs. Read about the absenteeism and tardiness at work. Read about the neglect of responsibility.

I say to the ones on the board who brought this to the table once again, do not neglect your responsibility to the oath of office that you took and to those of us you represent.

If you have never had a loved one or friend swallowed up by this viscous predator to please listen to those of us who have. It is has been proven to be worse than drug addiction. For those of us who have experienced it, it is absolutely the most helpless and empty feeling you will experience. It is worse than if they had died!

For the betterment of our lovely community, vote down this roaring lion who seeks to devour this community, our children, grandchildren, businesses and families. Be assured, as a registered voter of this community, me and others will oppose any type of legalized gambling vehemently and continually.

Finally and once again, I am asking you to go to the final authority, the word of God.

The Bible in Ezekiel 22:27 says, “Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain.”

Psalm 33:12 says, “Blessed is the nation (community) whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.”

Now, since the Lord is against this and the people are against this, where do you stand?

Will you stand for legalized gambling with the “princes in the midst thereof,” or against legalized gambling and get blessed along with the good people of this lovely community “whose God is the Lord.”

Larry Wagoner

Ferriday resident