Those persons and organizations that opposed the proposed amendment to allow smoking to continue at the Shreveport casinos and video poker bars pulled out all the stops. And in several instances this group crossed the line by harassing council members, contacting employers of council members and making accusations against families of council members.
Their collective effort was successful.
But what about COVID?
Unlike cancer and other smoke-related illnesses, COVID is contagious. And COVID has killed more people since the pandemic started than cancer and heart disease combined by a long shot.
Louisiana ranks second in the nation in COVID vaccinations. Northwest Louisiana is seeing an increase in COVID infections.
African-Americans have disproportinately contracted and died from COVID., and as a group have the lowest vaccination rates. Interestingly enough most of the anti-smoke lobby at the recent council meeting were African-Americans.
So where are the aggressive anti-smokers on this issue?
Maybe some group should hand out tee shirts emblazed with "Get the Shot and Stomp out COVID." But that may not be as much "fun" because those that like to attack others will not have a target other than their own ignorance/complacency and that of others.
It this group goe to Bossier and attempts to have a similar ordinace passed, they will need to clean up their act big time. The ridiculous circus at the Shreveport City Council meeting will not be tolerated in Bossier City. And rightly so.