State Senate Candidate Calls for Abolishing Internet Cafes

Fresh from beating primary rival Senate Majority Leader Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, in a straw poll held on Saturday, Central Florida businessman Ron Rushing pledged on Wednesday to make abolishing Internet cafes one of his chief priorities if elected.

When I first looked into this issue, I immediately questioned the legality of these Internet cafes, since unregulated gambling is illegal in Florida, said Rushing. "However, due (to) the 1971 Florida sweepstakes provision of the law, these gambling locations are allowed to conduct business.

It is my position that these Internet cafes are clearly unregulated gambling and these locations have already proven to attract crime, added Rushing. In April of this year, there was a deadly shooting at the Seminole County Internet cafe, and this past week the Clermont Internet Cafwas robbed at gunpoint by a masked gunman.I am thankful that no one lost their life during this recent robbery and I am determined to take action to close this loophole and shut down these locations.

Rushing attacked Gardiner for doing nothing to shut down Internet cafes during his time in Tallahassee and, citing an Orlando Sentinel article, jabbed two other legislators -- Rep. Peter Nehr, R-Tarpon Springs, and Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, for investing in them.

It is time we replaced legislators that will not stand against issues like Internet cafes, or who take it a step further and actually profit from this type of activity," said Rushing. I will take a stand to abolish simulated gambling locations. I am determined to make Florida a highly desired state to do business, live safely, work, and vacation."