KPEL Interview: Jonathan Perry On Facebook Rumors About Cajun Navy Legislation

**Updated 8/25/2016 by Brand Manager, Rob Kirkpatrick**

**UPDATE** In a story posted on Thursday, WWL TV reporter Meg Farris showed a call log to Jonathan Perry's phone multiple times before the original story aired in the 5pm newscasts on Tuesday. Reporter Meg Farris says she was told by a staffer that Perry would return her calls, which he didn't before the story aired. You can read the full report by clicking HERE.

A week ago today, State Sen. Jonathan Perry spoke with KPEL’s Rob Kirkpatrick and Bernadette Lee about ideas he had to put more authority behind the “Cajun Navy,” ideas to prevent its members from being turned away from helping those in need.

“At the end of the day, there are going to be two things that are going to be the hurdle when you approach it from the state’s standpoint,” pointed out Sen. Perry last week. “Liability is going to be number one for them. They don’t want the liability of someone going out to rescue someone and then not being able to find them (the rescuers) and, secondly, there’s a cost.”

So, Sen. Perry discussed how he was looking into training these people for these kinds of situations so they can have certification to show law enforcement officials, which would allow them into the devastated areas instead of being turned away. And, the state would not be liable for them.

But rumors quickly spread across social media about what Sen. Perry says he is actually doing and what he says his intentions are concerning the “Cajun Navy.”

“I need to set the record straight for the people who put me in office so they know I’m doing what I need to do,” Sen. Perry said on “Acadiana’s Morning News.”

“My intent is to remove that (rescuers being turned away) so they are not breaking the law and that they can assist law enforcement without a fee, without a tax," continued Sen. Perry. "It may be that something has to be done as simple as signing a waiver prior to the disaster so when you do come across law enforcement you can say, ‘Look, I signed a waiver.’ If not, they (law enforcement) will not let you go through.”

“If you disagree with me, that’s one thing," stated Sen. Perry. "But find out the facts. And then after the fact, if you still disagree with me, that’s fine.”

“The Government should not get in the way when people are volunteering and putting their own lives at risk to save the life of another human being,” stated Bernie, which Sen. Perry agreed wholeheartedly.

“I think the surprising part to me…is that conservative voters are attacking you the most, and it’s due to misconceptions,” said Rob, who cited Perry “as one of the more conservative voters that we have, especially from our area.”

“I don’t know that I’ve gotten any hate mail, hate calls or hate texts, emails, anything, other than from Republicans,” Perry responded. “And I’m a Republican…Most of these people aren’t from Acadiana.”

“My 15-year-old daughter, my 11-year-old son and my 6-year-old son didn’t get on the radio to talk about it, so leave them alone.”