Re:"Majority of Calgarians favor limiting access to VLT's," Calgary Herald, Apr.5.

It's ridiculous to suggest that the VLT issue is one of freedom of
choice and democracy. We, as a society, are constantly limiting some
of the choices we can make in our daily lives through our laws.

Witness anti-drug laws. Without a doubt this law attempts to limit the
freedom of choice of a junkie to pump himself up with heroin.
Collectively, we have spoken to our politicians and demanded that this
kind of behaviour not be tolerated.

Sometimes the laws may seem arbitrary. Alcohol and cigarettes, for
example, are acceptable whereas marijuana is not. I'll argue that
cigarettes kill more people in a year than marijuana ever will - or
VLT's for that matter - but the point is that society has deemed some
activities legal and others not, with little regard to "freedom of
choice."

The VLT issue is about whether or not we allow people to destroy their
livelihood and that of their families.

As we debate this issue in the following weeks, beware of those who
shroud themselves in democracy and freedom, all while pursuing their
own interests.

Dan Lemay
Calgary