Tolliver makes it known that
a ‘no’ vote is what is required
JEFFERSON CITY—Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) Interim Executive Director David Tolliver is clear about where Missouri Baptists stand on the latest proposed expansion of gambling—NOonA.
“From the onset of legalized gambling in Missouri, the citizens of the Show Me State have been misled by the gambling industry and I believe by our Legislature,” he said. “As the husband of a public school teacher, I can tell you that Missouri classrooms are not seeing more dollars because of gambling money. I frankly do not believe that Proposition A will bring more dollars to education, but even if it did, at what cost?”
As the battle winds down to the final days, with relentless media advertising on television, radio and print outlets designed to sway citizens toward casting a yes vote, Tolliver said it is important to not lose heart.
“I would encourage Missouri Baptists, no matter what sacrifice they may have to make, no matter what’s going on that day, to get to the polls and vote no,” he said. “I believe that is them voting their biblical convictions.”
Messengers to last year’s annual meeting of the MBC at Tan-Tar-A in Osage Beach passed a resolution that called for the restriction of gambling. Primary in that language was a call for state government to “both retain the $500 loss limit and strictly enforce it.”
The resolution also made the case directly and without equivocation that Missouri Baptists stand firmly against any and all expansions of gambling, regardless of any “technically deceptive” wording used to define gambling.