This is a request to all members of the Southwest Louisiana judicial system.

Not a day goes by where there is not a murder committed. Though we in Southwest Louisiana are not suffering like the citizens of many other cities and regions, there are still a high number of local murders, as well.

In 2021, according to the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement, the three-year recidivism rate in Louisiana is 34.1 percent. The fact that around one-third of released criminals are going to be repeat offenders is scary. Just looking at the listings in American Press’ Arrests column —almost every day one of the arrests contains a phrase similar to “possession of firearm or carrying concealed weapon by a person convicted of certain felonies” or “illegal carrying of weapons during commission of a crime.”

I am requesting that local district attorneys prosecute all offenders carrying a firearms. Also I am asking for DAs to request that all judges hand down the maximum penalty during sentencing in cases where a firearm is involved. Given the statistics it is just a matter of time before someone who just happens to be carrying a weapon murders someone. Please make the fear of the penalty for carrying an illegal weapon severe enough that criminals are hesitant to do so. Save an innocent victim’s life.

Ron Tell

Lake Charles