It's a sad week in Louisiana: A sitting Judge- who supposed to protect the public-has essentially said, " Yell derogatory racial remarks at people and then shoot at them with a 12 gage shotgun, and you will not be sentenced to any jail time."

Judges have discretion, but discretion in this case has been abused, and common sense has been abandoned. The public's trust, confidence, and respect in the judicial system are undermined by such a glaring error in judgment. If no jail time is imposed in this case, how to we deter such egregious conduct.

Certainly, if those defendants had fired shots at more esteemed members of the community, they would have been dealt with more severely. Moreover, if another ethnic group had engaged in similar conduct against the predominant group, such leniency would not have been granted- and I would not want them to be granted such leniency.

It is real simple, be tough and stand on principle, particularly when dealing with violent crime and acts that endanger the public. The judge missed the opportunity to do what was right and proper in this case. Perhaps, he will admit that mistake and apologize to the community.