Panhandling has been going on forever but it does seem to have gotten worse in the last few years. I read Chehalis has now passed an ordinance similar to one passed in Centralia, which places some reasonable limits on where they can. I’m glad they did.
I’m not all that easily intimidated, but I don’t appreciate aggressive panhandling, especially from people who appear able to do something other than beg me for money. But lately it seems hardly anyplace is safe from it. I’ve been approached in the parking lot of our local hospital (more than once), at a couple gas stations, at stop lights and even as I stepped out of my car one evening at a local restaurant.
Don’t get me wrong; I’m not opposed to helping people who need help. That might mean actually putting gas in their gas can or buying a meal for someone who looks like they could use it. But too often, the stranded motorist at the gas station is still there the next time I need gas.
With all the nuts in our world today, it’s understandable why being approached by strangers would make us nervous. Common sense dictates it should.
Or why this could even create fear, especially when they get close too close you and are between you and where you need to go.
At the traffic light at Harrison Avenue and Interstate 5 a couple years ago, a guy came up and knocked on my window. I ignored him, but he kept knocking on it until the light turned green and I could go. It was a little unsettling.
I was recently in Indianapolis and walked around downtown Indianapolis between the convention center and my hotel. There were panhandlers everywhere, it seemed. Several were seated underneath “help wanted” signs and there were a lot of those signs around. And yet, they were often in the same place every day I came by.
Many, if not most, looked able to take one of those jobs advertised.
My curiosity got the better of me so I decided to ask one young guy why. Why not work for self respect if nothing else?
He simply said he liked the panhandling hours and didn’t want to lose the freebies he gets as a poor “homeless” guy. Was he homeless? No.
He gets housing assistance and lived with friends. He seemed to know quite about the benefits he could get, where to get them, and what working would cost him. Ya — cost him.
He did give working a try for a while but didn’t care for the hours or structure required.
I should mention this guy also told me he’d only talk to me after I gave him 5 bucks for his time.
Another guy approached my wife and me while we were walking and acted as though he was taking our picture with his hands. He was very friendly and chatty, but was also aggressive as he continued walking with us. He said he was a veteran, a Christian who had issues (that made me a bit uncomfortable). He stayed too close for my comfort, and kept talking a mile a minute.
Eventually I gave him 10 bucks to end it, but he suggested $20 would be better. At least at that point, we were able to part company with him.
I realize it has been decided panhandling is protected free speech under the First Amendment and they have a right to do it.
But what about the rest of us?
What about my wife, mom or daughter’s First Amendment right not to associate with a panhandler if they don’t want to? Or yours?
Not really, the courts say. Generally, panhandlers have a right to pester us for money, and we have the right to accept it.
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John McCroskey was Lewis County sheriff from 1995 to 2005. He lives outside Chehalis, and can be contacted at musingsonthemiddlefork@yahoo.com.
