Octogenarian Gamblers: The New Menace!

Radley Balko | November 8, 2007

Police in Tennessee broke up a local poker came they say was run by 82-year-old World Series of Poker vet Phil McKinney. McKinney and 15 others were arrested (one on a charge of possessing moonshine). Scary photo of police-seized contraband poker chips here.

Meanwhile, 87-year-old WWII vet Bill Meserve won't get to play $5 cribbage at the VFW anymore. Police in Gariner, Maine have shut the games down.

The American Legion post in Gardiner was told it could purchase a special license for just $7.50 a year, provided it charged no more than $1 per person and players did not gamble.

"But they want to do it their way," [Police Sgt. William] Gomane said.

Those bastard war veterans, arrogantly assuming that the liberty they risked their lives fighting for includes the right to participate in $5 cribbage games.