Dear Editor,

This is a letter intended for Sen. Roger Bedford.

Sen. Bedford, I hope that the gambling bill you recently backed would have had a commission that would help with grief counseling for those that commit suicide because of their gambling habit.

You may stop reading this because you probably think I am some conservative “nut,” but please read if you have any conscience whatsoever.

I am originally from Louisiana, and I have seen and know how gambling on the Mississippi River in Mississippi and Louisiana has devastated families.

I had a good friend tell me recently he was going to his 13-year-old son’s best friend’s father’s funeral because the father had a gambling problem and committed suicide.

You won’t read or hear about these tragedies in the news, but they are real human beings with real mothers, fathers, wives, sons, daughters, grandsons and granddaughters – and real senators and representatives also.

Do some home work to see if these tragedies are real, because after you do your homework, you will want qualified people to explain to these families that their loved one committed suicide, but you can also tell them the state and county now have a few more people employed.

Also, you can tell them the tax revenue is higher due to the gambling tax.

And let’s not forget to tell them that we have many nonprofits that are being helped.

I am sure this all justifies a few tragedies, right?

My question to you is this: were you brought into this world to create a “monster” that will ruin people’s lives? Yes, people make choices, but you are in a position of power and have a huge responsibility to not only do what the normal, hardworking voter wants, but to protect the citizens you represent?

Jobs and money don’t bring back dead people or ruined lives.