Would you be in favor of welfare users being part of a lottery ban? According to the Christian Post Jan. 25, food stamp recipients in North Carolina could be prohibited from participating in the state's lottery if the proposal goes through.
A reported 1.7 million people are on welfare in the state.
Rep. Paul Stam said, "We're giving them welfare to help them live, and yet by selling them a ticket, we're taking away their money that is there to provide them the barest of necessities."
The welfare lottery ban has been contemplated for months by lawmakers. The idea is gaining momentum from supporters of such a proposal. One of the worries by those in support of it, is how would it be enforced? Lawmakers said some of the responsibility would fall on merchants. If cashiers "know" someone is on food stamps or other public assistance, they would be expected to refuse selling them lottery tickets. There are issues associated with that since a number of merchants wouldn't feel it's their place to make those kinds of decisions about their customers.
Welfare users and the proposed lottery ban is a heated debate. Some feel it's too intrusive and demonizes the poor. Others feels that if they can afford lottery tickets, they shouldn't be on food stamps or any kind of public assistance.
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