Soldiers suicide leads to another bill.....

skinski · #1 12-19-2007, 06:04 AM

A bill in Congress seeks to eliminate military slot machines overseas that take in $130 million a year . The money is mostly from soldiers. The big reason for the bill ? Army Warrant Officer Aaron Walsh, a decorated Apache helicopter pilot who became addicted to gambling on military slot machines and then later commited suicide......

You can read my thoughts on this at my blog , The House of Poker ,or read the full story at CNN

bartongrl1 · #2 12-19-2007, 09:29 AM

I dont necessairly agree with the thinking here. For one thing there are medications a person can take that can actually cause gambling problems. Another thing is if the military knew that he had a problem, why didnt they step in to begin with? To add to that problem, they added the problem of a discharge, that just doesnt seem right to me.

And taking away a form of recreation that the other soldiers enjoy and dont have a problem with seems redundant.

skinski · #3 12-19-2007, 03:35 PM

"Another thing is if the military knew that he had a problem, why didnt they step in to begin with? To add to that problem, they added the problem of a discharge, that just doesnt seem right to me."

Yep , my thoughts exactly .

lvpoker · #4 12-20-2007, 06:36 AM

My heart goes out to the family of this decorated soldier.. however. The military had to be aware of the hardship that his gambling has put on this mans family.. and they have discharged this soldier as a last resort.. Being a retired military wife there are steps of prodical that has to be in place.. counsling is one of them.. I wouldn't be so quick to judge the military on there actions. like I said discharge is the last resort.

bartongrl1 · #5 12-20-2007, 08:58 AM

Thank you for clarifing that.

beangel40 · #6 12-20-2007, 03:55 PM

Thank you so much for sharing that information with us
And my heart goes out to the family My paryers are with them

lvpoker · #7 12-21-2007, 07:55 PM

i just didn't want anyone to think that the military is heartless. they do have alot to do with the problems are military men and women have, and some things that i don't agree with. but there is a certain change of events that happens before a discharge.. and being away in a war that not to many people agree with and being away from your family in such a stressful situation I just think that there was alot more factors in this mans suicide.