Being Poor is NOT a Crime

RLF · 11-01-2006, 10:31 PM

In Las Vegas, bringing food to the park and handing it out to the
homeless is punishable by six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

In Dallas, only approved churches, charities and individuals can serve
the homeless only in approved locations. If not approved, you so much
as offer a biscuit to a hungry person, you are subject to fines up to
$2,000.

Now in Redding if you are one of the more than 2,000 homeless men,
women, and children in Shasta County caught by a small campfire trying
to keep warm within Redding's city limits, you can receive up to six
months in jail, and a $1,000 fine.

Many more Cities are doing the same.......

God, from one end of the Bible to the other, expresses his desire for
us to care, uphold and provide for the poor. Is it God's will that
poverty should be a crime? Is it not written, "He who oppresses the
poor, reproaches His Maker?" Didn't Jesus say, "Assuredly, I say to
you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren,
you did it to me?"

Mental illness does not respond to increased fines and jail time. Home-
lessness does not respond to tearing down their temporary shelters,
throwing away their possessions, and driving them out of town. A lack
of hope does not respond to a lack of love.

We must constructively address the plight of the homeless, and its
multifaceted causes,
before its to late.......
http://reddingloavesandfishes.com/

ballz2wallz · 11-01-2006, 10:32 PM

So how do we address this? What's the best course of action?

KatKanPlay · 11-01-2006, 10:35 PM

You have my attention!

6SpeedTA95 · 11-01-2006, 10:38 PM

Or the homeless can get a job!

SpicyMcVoodoo · 11-01-2006, 10:44 PM

Originally Posted by 6SpeedTA95

Or the homeless can get a job!

Most of these people are insane and/or total drug addicts.
The real problem here is lack of public funding for mental hospitals or addiction treatment. It's pretty simple, actually...you either fork over the funds to permanently house and care for these people or you deal with them shitting, pissing, begging, stealing, killing, etc. I think most cities choose the latter because it's cheaper, and these regs listed in the original post are just attempts to sweep the real problem under the rug.

KatKanPlay · 11-01-2006, 10:45 PM

Originally Posted by 6SpeedTA95

Or the homeless can get a job!

I think the illegals have those jobs.

KatKanPlay · 11-01-2006, 10:51 PM

I cant figure out how the whole "fine" system is supposed to work?? Where is a homeless person going to get $1000.00??? If they dont pay the fine, and they get thrown in jail, I guess that takes care of our homeless problem.. Either way it is government funded. Seems like we could put those funds to better use.

Kytro · 11-01-2006, 10:55 PM

What the hell. Fines for giving people food. Government need to back the fuck off.

6SpeedTA95 · 11-01-2006, 10:57 PM

Originally Posted by Kytro

What the hell. Fines for giving people food. Government need to back the fuck off.

Yes I agree, but the government wants people dependant on them not themselves or society so goodluck with that

Diesel66 · 11-02-2006, 08:54 AM

yes because random fires in Redding is a good idea. That place is one spark away from a massive wildfire every day.

Stylerod · 11-02-2006, 09:19 AM

Originally Posted by Kytro

What the hell. Fines for giving people food. Government need to back the fuck off.

I'd like to see proof of that before I blame the government for something that might have never happened.

WickedLou9 · 11-02-2006, 09:56 AM

I would imagine that if such a law exists it would be aimed at someone setting up a soup kitchen or other such facility without getting approval to make sure that it is done properly and that they are not feeding the homeless people dog food or other such disgusting thing.

AVengeance · 11-02-2006, 10:01 AM

Originally Posted by SpicyMcVoodoo

Most of these people are insane and/or total drug addicts.
The real problem here is lack of public funding for mental hospitals or addiction treatment. It's pretty simple, actually...you either fork over the funds to permanently house and care for these people or you deal with them shitting, pissing, begging, stealing, killing, etc. I think most cities choose the latter because it's cheaper, and these regs listed in the original post are just attempts to sweep the real problem under the rug.

Translation: the solution is stealing more money in the form of taxes from those that contribute to society, and redistributing the wealth to the losers that don't do for themselves.

WickedLou9 · 11-02-2006, 10:03 AM

Originally Posted by AVengeance

Translation: the solution is stealing more money in the form of taxes from those that contribute to society, and redistributing the wealth to the losers that don't do for themselves.

ME ME ME ME! screw everyone else.

ballz2wallz · 11-02-2006, 10:04 AM

Originally Posted by WickedLou9

ME ME ME ME! screw everyone else.

I think people would be more inclined to help others if they weren't forced to.

Diesel66 · 11-02-2006, 10:04 AM

Originally Posted by WickedLou9

ME ME ME ME! screw everyone else.

because we all know the welfare state is doing a great job

Phantom · 11-02-2006, 10:08 AM

Interesting, would this make someone who begs for food an accomplice or at least guilty of solicitation of a criminal act? I don't see why not.

That would be disgusting twist to already ridiculous ordinances.

Scrum · 11-02-2006, 10:10 AM

Originally Posted by ballz2wallz

I think people would be more inclined to help others if they weren't forced to.

Yeah, i'm sure that's true.

WickedLou9 · 11-02-2006, 10:15 AM

Originally Posted by ballz2wallz

I think people would be more inclined to help others if they weren't forced to.

I was talking about what Avengence said calling the homeless "losers" that simply refuse to work. It's so far off base that it actually makes me mad. It's lunacy, idiocy, ignorance, and selfishness all wraped up into one.

WickedLou9 · 11-02-2006, 10:18 AM

Originally Posted by ballz2wallz

I think people would be more inclined to help others if they weren't forced to.

Ha. yeah right. By and large, people are selfish and greedy and are too involved in thier own lives to be troubled with helping others. Those with the luxury of the means and the time to help others seldom do. Some people do, yes, but most don't.