How to remove if statement with an if statement? as3

Question

I'm making a game where the character has to pass through the gate after getting the key so when he gets the key the gate is suppose to go away, i used

if(character.hitTestObject(gate))
{character.visible = false;                   
youLose_text.visible = true; }

BUT when he gets the key: it's

if(character.hitTestObject(key))
{
   gate.visible = false; }

NOW when i pass through the gate, i obviously get killed again now how do i remove the previous if function through the next if function?

Answer 1

If the gate is supposed to actually "go away", you should completely remove it, not just make it invisible... e.g.:

if(character.hitTestObject(key)) {
    //don't forget to remove event listeners on the gate as well, if it had any
    removeChild(gate);
    gate = null;
} else if(gate != null) {
    if(character.hitTestObject(gate)) {
        character.visible = false;
        youLose_text.visible = true;
    }
}