Thoughts?
http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/04/justice/florida-feeding-homeless-charges/index.html?c=us&page=1
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Pan handlers are a BIG problem in my part of Florida, so I am happy to see law enforcement get them out of the street during traffic and off the sidewalk. I have called the police on pan handlers who stay in the middle of the lanes once the traffic lights turn green.
However, if people want to feed the homeless and do so where the homeless congregate I have no problem with that Just as long as it doesn't effect my commute.
The line in the article about feeding the homeless continues the cycle is BS. Many homeless people are mentally ill, free food doesn't keep them on the street, lack of mental health care does.
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I think that's ridiculous. The mayor wants less homeless on the streets so he is going to starve them?
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@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: I have no problems with police intervening when people who are panhandling are doing something illegal like obstructing traffic or harassing someone. But I think laws banning panhandling are a first amendment violation. And doing things like banning congregating in public areas often forces homeless people to walk all day long, which is pretty cruel I think. It can often force homeless people into residential areas to sleep at night and people tend to like that outcome even less.
But back to the article -
There is just absolutely no evidence that restricting access to food ends homelessness. Gah!
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I'm shocked at the lack of thought that goes into these laws.
Like PP said, free food doesn't keep people homeless, a lack of mental healthcare does!
And to criminalize an act of humanity? Absurd.
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Stop giving them food and that will end the homelessness?! WTF?! My heart hurts. I'm shocked that anyone would support this ordinance or the people that passed it through. Homelessness is an issue but not one to be starved off. These are humans who need help and support, not a broom sweeping them out.
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@jedeve: We have enough laws on the book against blocking traffic, loitering and trespassing that can and should be enforced without having to resort to violating first amendment rights.
Don't feed the homeless sounds alot like don't feed the animals and that is just awful.
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Awful. A law that bans "public food sharing"?! Wtf. We should not be sending people like Arnold Abbott to jail when we so desperately need more people like him in this world!
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So sad. Instead of criminalizing an act of humanity, perhaps the city can try to figure out what it can do to solve the homeless problem.
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8 comments