EDITORIAL: To the tourists: Be careful and clean out there

The past two editions of The Log show that Destin can be a dangerous place — for both tourists and turtles.

On today’s front page, Reporter Jennifer Rich explores what is a common seasonal sight for many residents: tourists dashing across Highway 98 as cars speed by. A 9-year-old girl was clipped late last month while trying to cross the road that many call “Bloody 98.”

Also on the front, we tell the story of a visitor who was struck by a falling bullet while watching July Fourth fireworks on the harbor.

Meanwhile, last week’s Log showed that tourists are unwittingly digging the graves of sea turtles when they leave large sand traps in the form of monster holes on the beach. The turtles are also mistaking discarded tourist trash as food, imperiling a species that is already listed as endangered.

We are quick to dismiss the gun incident as a tragic and recklessly random act.

In fact, Okaloosa deputies remember only one other incident of its kind. In the mid ‘70s, a child was killed when a falling bullet hit her in the head in Fort Walton Beach.

Firing weapons in the air doesn’t seem to fit in a place like Destin. Instead, we associate such acts of criminal carelessness with war-torn countries like Iraq or big cities like Atlanta or Chicago.

But while we don’t think our tourists should start donning bulletproof vests, we can pay attention to the risks we can minimize.

So be sure to look both ways, cross at a crosswalk and hold your kids’ hands when doing the 98 shuffle. And when you arrive on the beach, dig all the holes you want, but fill them in when you’re done. Then make sure to pick up your trash on the way back to the condo.

When you jump behind the wheel to sample one of our four star restaurants, use extra caution when you see tourists lining the highway like deer on a country road.

We live in paradise, but even paradise isn’t immune to tragedy.