Indiana

DON?T GIVE, IT HURTS

By Abdul Hakim-Shabazz

I told you guys a while back the city was looking to crackdown on panhandlers, one of which was to make them pay a registration fee.   As someone who spends most of his time in downtown Indianapolis I can tell you the downtown panhandlers are a big pain.  There are a couple who actually have talent and I don’t mind giving them change, but the rest need to go.

They are a nusiance and potentially dangerous under the wrong set of circumstances.

I argue they would all go away if people would just stop giving them money.  Just like stray cats and dogs, they will only stick around if you feed them.  If people would simply stop giving to the panhandlers, the panhandlers would go away.

I am not talking about not contributing to the homeless.  Homeless and panhandlers are two completely different creatures.  I encourage everyone to give to charities that help the homeless, but giving money to panhandlers only creates more panhandlers.

Full post as published by Indiana Barrister on April 01, 2008 (boomark / email).