NYS MMA Legislation - Get a load of this jerk

[SilverFox]

 

April 27, 2010

Dear Mr. David Karchmer,

This is in response to your postcard regarding Assembly Bill A2009C.  This bill would establish protocols for combative sports, authorize, and tax gross receipts for mixed martial arts events. Thank you for taking the time to write and advise me of your views.

This bill was referred to the Tourism, Parks, Arts, and Sports Committee.  This is a brutal activity. These fighters should not be viewed as role models. The Governor claims it would generate about $2 million in revenue for the state. It would be better to cut spending than to allow to be viewed in auditoriums or on TV which might encourage immature individuals to mimic this behavior. Should it come to the floor of the Assembly I will  be voting against it. 

If either my staff or I can be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us at 845-463-1635 or via email at millerj@assembly.state.ny.us.


Thank you again for writing.
 

Sincerely,


Joel M. Miller

Member of Assembly

102nd Assembly District

 

JMM/klp


David Karchmer wrote:
I am urging you to support efforts to bring Mixed Martial Arts to New York. I have been a long time fan of the sport and I am hoping that the New York State legislature will pass bill # A2009/S2165, which would finally legalize MMA in New York.

Mixed Martial Arts is one of the fastest growing and most exciting sports in America, featuring world class athletes and a high degree of skill. In the past five years, the sport of Mixed Martial Arts has seen a meteoric rise in interest from nearly every age and demographic, adding to its cache as a mainstream sport.  MMA fighters are former Olympians, former NCAA wrestlers, elite-level athletes that deserve the support of New York. MMA events are heavily regulated under the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts to ensure that the highest levels of safety for all the athletes.

Mixed Martial Arts events regularly sell out venues, bringing millions in tourist dollars to states that sanction events. At a time when our state is facing difficult economic times, the additional revenue that MMA events would drive in would be a great benefit for our cash-strapped cities and arenas.  Hundreds of thousands, if not, millions of New Yorkers are watching MMA on TV, so our outdated ban merely deprives us of the revenue.
It is time for New York to the join the 36 other states, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, in regulating this sport. Thank you for your time.

[Mr Hanky]

[Natural Selection]

I interviewed Joel Miller for a Documentary I shot about community college education a few years ago. The guy is a complete moron. He had nothing substantive to say and just kept repeating party lines and quoting un-sourced statistics. It's scary that people like him get elected.

[ooitzoo]

Well he's right about the spending cuts but I don't see why we can't do both

[Brain]

It would generate about $2 million in revenue for the state? Per event, maybe.

"Study: Richmond International Raceway has economic impact of $467 million"
http://www.nascar.com/2009/news/business/03/26/richmond.economic.impact/index.html

[ooitzoo]

It would generate about $2 million in revenue for the state? Per event, maybe.

"Study: Richmond International Raceway has economic impact of $467 million"
http://www.nascar.com/2009/news/business/03/26/richmond.economic.impact/index.html

They are first year estimates from a blind (and not so smart) lame duck governor.

[gusano]

Yeah, thank God it isn't "on TV which might encourage immature individuals to mimic this behavior".

[locoslam1970]

I interviewed Joel Miller for a Documentary I shot about community college education a few years ago. The guy is a complete moron. He had nothing substantive to say and just kept repeating party lines and quoting un-sourced statistics. It's scary that people like him get elected.

What it is really scary is voters who are stupid  as to elect an official that is a moron.

[LARP]

did he marry into to a major boxing sponor's family?

[SilverFox]

My not-so clever reply:

Dear Mr. Miller -
 
Thank you for your reply.  Unfortunately, it appears that you are ignorant to martial arts activities and perhaps sports in general. Your reference to brutality seems to categorize MMA as something more physical or barbaric than boxing, football, professional wrestling, and other full contact activities that already occur in New York.  Your categorical reference to MMA fighters being poor role models is naive and frankly rude. Additionally, I think you have a great deal of nerve thinking you know better than New York State residents about what they want to watch on TV or go see in auditoriums. 

Like many politicians, you have positioned yourself as some type of expert about a subject you are not willing to take any time to learn.  Your foolish comment about saving 'immature individuals' from themselves makes as much sense as banning NASCAR because you believe it will make the roads safer because people won't mimic professional race car drivers.
 
The point of this legislation is to allow New York State to participate in the revenues of this increasingly main stream sporting event. Please understand, regardless of this legislation, this sport will continue to grow around North America and the world.  But, thanks to individuals like you, New York State will be an exception to enjoying any of its success.
 
Please do what your heart tells you, but understand that your constituents will speak loudly on this issue come election day to those that prefer to make NY State the exception to MMA around the country.  Personally, I will not vote for you in the future.

Regards,
David Karchmer

[princegiggy]

He can't help himself from voting "no". He is a republican, it's in his blood.

[CrushingU]

lets go to his office and kick his ass.

[ooitzoo]

He can't help himself from voting "no". He is a republican, it's in his blood.

Yep. The only thing in liberals blood is a kleptomaniac need to rescue everyone from themselves. Just so you know, NY is probably as liberal as it gets.

[SilverFox]

He can't help himself from voting "no". He is a republican, it's in his blood.

Yes, and thank goodness Republicans vote 'No' for things like more taxes and handouts, which Democrats love.   

[Fallopian Tube]

Kudos to him!

If I still resided in NY, I would definitely vote for him. 

When two athletes of pugilism step into a ring and fight under Marquis de Queensbury rules, that is one thing--to be sure, there is honor in that.  But when two vicious brutes step into a cage, and deal blows to each other with elbows, knees, and use strangulations or joint manipulations on each other, that is nothing less than barbarism. 

As a god-fearing human being and as a father, I refuse to accept this homoerotic violence against others as entertainment.  In this downwards spiraling world where we celebrate the obscene--a world where attention-whoring celebrities in drug rehabilitation is seen as amusement, or where negro rappers are revered as heroes by children--this human cockfighting you call "Mixed Martial Arts" is simply another sad reflection on the intellectual bancruptcy of this country. 

To be sure, MMA takes this idiocracy and extends it far beyond that.  Indeed, it threatens our very humanity and civility when crime is turned into a spectacle for entertainment and called 'sport'. 

No, sir, I refuse to be a part of or support such savagery. 

Bravo, Mr. Miller.  Bravo.