Montgomery, AL – State Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks and eight legislators are urging the governor to stop raids at Alabama casinos.
Sparks and the legislators said Thursday tensions are rising because the closure of several casinos has put people out of work and violence could erupt that would be bad for Alabama's national image.
State Sen. Hank Sanders of Selma said the governor is provoking violence by permitting the task force to attempt casino raids without search warrants.
The governor's press secretary, Todd Stacy, said Sparks can holler all he wants, but it doesn't change the fact that the casinos are operating illegally.
Sparks is a Democratic candidate for governor who has endorsed the expansion and taxation of gambling in Alabama.
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