After assuring me he was a poker player and did not want to limit our freedoms, the official website of the Utah Legislature reported Rep. Gibson voted with the unanimous majority in the House in favor of HJR001.
Upon receiving the letter I sent him (below) Representative Gibson immediately called me and said he did not vote for HJR001. Representative Gibson states that he argued against the bill, was ridiculed, and walked off the floor, abstaining from the vote by design. Representative Gibson has promised me that he will have the record changed to reflect his abstention.
Thank you to Mr. Gibson for calling me back and pledging his continued support.
Below is a copy of the letter I sent him tonight:
Mr. Gibson,
Thank you for taking the time to speak with me a few days ago. Over the course of our conversation I came to believe that you were with us when it comes to individual freedoms and moral free-agency, particularly with regard to poker rights.
I was sorry to see that you voted in favor of HJR001 yesterday.
I know you must have your reasons for voting in favor of this resolution, and I sincerely hope we can win your support in the future. It's a sad day when individual freedoms take a back seat to moral activism masquerading as "states rights".
The Poker Players Alliance is over 1 million members strong, with nearly 3,500 members in Utah alone. We were really hoping we had finally found someone who would stand for poker rights and individual freedoms that we could support in the Republican primary next election cycle.
If that candidate steps forward in the Republican party, we will wholeheartedly support him or her. I sincerely hope, should similar issues arise in the future, that candidate will be you.
Please feel free to contact me if you wish to clarify your position.
Respectfully,
Chadler E. Cowles
Utah State Director, Poker Players Alliance
Proud Poker Player Since 1980
(801) 687-7421