“Disasters create opportunity,” said Retired U.S. Army General Russel Honore.
July 2016 was one of the toughest times for the Baton Rouge community. Beginning with the shooting death of Alton Sterling, outrage and protests followed. Then, nearly two weeks later, a brutal attack on our law enforcement officers.
In this time, we’ve seen tears, and we’ve seen unity.
Honore tells me each of these events brought about different, yet crucial conversations starting with the Alton Sterling shooting.
“We’re living in two Baton Rouges. Baton Rouge at large, and North Baton Rouge, where people are living at a whole different standard,” said Honore. “It brought to light for many people in Baton Rouge ‘hey, we need to do something about this.'”
As for the attack on our law enforcement…
“It brings up the whole conversation of open carry of weapons in public as part of the conversations, and it’s a conversation we need to have. Being able to carry any gun you want, anywhere, any place without any restriction, and I think that’s foolish. It shows what it’s doing to our police making them more vulnerable,” concluded Honore.