In San Antonio, Texas, it is already illegal to ask for money in a variety of public locations. (1)
Not satisfied with attempting to drive the homeless out, the Chief of Police and some on the City Council want to make it a crime to give money to the homeless.
Police Chief William McManus is proposing to fine all drivers caught in the act of giving food and/or money to panhandlers in San Antonio, Texas. District 3 Councilwoman Rebecca Viagran, who heads the Public Safety Committe, along with Councilman Mike Gallagher like this proposal to criminalize compassionate and charitable acts within our city.
Of course some goody two shoe bleeding heart criminal apologist God-hating libruls
are objecting:
It's hard to understand exactly how telling Americans who they're allowed to give a dollar to and who they're not would survive a legal challenge, but there's also something inherently unkind about the idea of criminalizing basic human compassion...
That's led to some pushback from people who are responding not just to the constitutional question, but also to the unkindness of the proposal. Criminal justice blog Grits For Breakfast reminded San Antonio city councilmembers of scripture; Nate Schlueter of Austin's Mobile Loaves and Fishes said that "if San Antonio does this ordinance they'll essentially become the cruelest city in America;" and a petition on Change.org currently has several hundred signatures, all urging similar sentiments.
But we all know there's not enough libruls in Texas to have trouble counting on two hands, so soon the highways entering San Antonio can have signs only a Police Chief could be proud of:
Welcome To San Antonio: America's Cruelest City!
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Note (1):
San Antonio dislikes panhandling so much that it's already illegal there, after a 2011 ordinance banned asking for money near "ATMs, banks, parking garages, charitable contribution meters, parking meters/pay stations, bus stops, outdoor dining areas, and marked crosswalks."
Sign the petition!