Random thoughts on issues of the day

I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately. OK, you’re probably wondering how that new experience is working out for me. I know that’s what my media friends are probably chuckling over. Anyway, there is so much going on that I nd it hard to keep up or do not nd the time to write about various issues. So, today, I will.

First, let’s discuss reworks.

It is hard for me to comprehend why municipalities allow reworks to be set off in residential neighborhoods. Is the reworks lobby that powerful, or do some friends of people in high places make a lot of money from selling reworks?

Shreveport and Bossier City both allow reworks to be set off at certain times for speci c holidays.

But here’s the problem: Some people just refuse to obey the rules. Take July 4. The law says one cannot pop reworks after 10 p.m. In my neighborhood, reworks were still heard at 2 a.m. I found a bottle rocket on my patio; a little farther, and it would have landed on my roof. Fireworks are dangerous in a neighborhood setting, disturb elderly residents, who go to bed early, and traumatize pets.

Shreveport Police received more than 110 calls from across the city between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. because of reworks being set off. Bossier City Police had 48 complaints after 10 p.m. with the last complaint coming in at 1:39 a.m. My thinking is, since there is a public reworks display, why don’t these recracker poppers take their kids to the riverfront?

Several municipalities in Louisiana have reworks bans, such as Baker, Brusly, Denham Springs, Gonzales, Lafayette, Napoleonville, New Roads, Port Allen, Thibodaux, Walker and Zachary, to mention a few. Some parishes also ban reworks – East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, Orleans, Lafourche, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Mary and Terrebonne. Other parishes ban reworks within city limits and allow them in rural areas. I am sure there are bans in other cities and parishes.

Louisiana is one of 21 states that allows the sale of most consumer reworks to residents, although there are some restrictions on types of reworks and other restrictions added at the local level. It is time for Shreveport and Bossier City to step up and ban reworks within their city limits. It’s the right – and safe – thing to do. If you agree, contact your mayor and council member.

Next issue: Edward Snowden, the former technical contractor for the United States National Security Agency and a former employee of the Central Intelligence Agency who leaked details of several top-secret U.S. and British government mass surveillance programs to the press. My opinion was that he was a traitor, and nearly everyone I heard from agreed with that assessment.

However, a national poll by Quinnipiac University revealed that 55 percent of those surveyed consider him a whistle-blower and not a traitor. Only 34 percent believed Snowden had betrayed his country, with 11 percent having no opinion. The majority view was that people see the threat from terrorism as real and worth defending against, but they have a sense that their privacy is being invaded and they are not at all happy about that. That position ies in the face of the almost uni ed view of the nation’s political establishment – and likely most of us here in Louisiana.

Next issue: The George Zimmerman trial verdict in which he was found not guilty in the death of Trayvon Martin. I thought the jury would at least nd him guilty of manslaughter, but it is hard to make an intelligent prediction since I was not privy to all of the evidence presented. But one thing is for sure. Zimmerman was freed, but he will never be free. He will be forever looking over his shoulder and fearing for his life because he is a reviled gure to millions. And it is possible he still faces more legal challenges.

However, there is no doubt Zimmerman should be convicted of being stupid. Why was he packing heat while a member of a neighborhood watch? And why did he ignore the police’s warning not to confront Martin? I can put myself in those shoes. As president of the Captain Shreve Neighborhood Association, I would certainly not walk around our neighborhoods with a gun looking for a suspicious person to confront. If I saw something suspicious, I would call the police and let them handle it.

Next issue: Gov. Bobby Jindal showing up with his son at the Manning Passing Academy at Nicholls State University with a $1.2 million check in hand. He said the check was for improvements to the 20-acre plot of land that holds 25 football elds the academy uses. Former Saints quarterback Archie Manning hosts the camp with sons Peyton (Denver Broncos), Eli (New York Giants) and Cooper. While the governor sliced $6 million from the budget that would have paid for services for the disabled, it seems a little ridiculous to fund the Manning Passing Academy. Peyton makes about $26 million a year, and Eli makes about $15 million. Couldn’t they pony up some money to improve the elds at Nicholls? After all, they are also making money off the participants at their passing academy.

That’s enough thinking for now.

Lou Gehrig Burnett, an award-winning journalist, has been involved with politics for 44 years and was a congressional aide in Washington, D.C., for 27 years. He also served as executive assistant to former Shreveport Mayor Bo Williams. Burnett is the publisher of the weekly “FaxNet Update” and can be reached at 861-0552 or [email protected].