Travis, Why is that something to be proud of?
On Jul 30, 6:27 pm, Travis <[email protected]> wrote: > When I lived in Dc, there were these bums begging on every corner. I am > proud to say that I never gave a single one of them so much as one damn > penny. > > > > On Thu, Jul 30, 2009 at 11:58 AM, Rick <[email protected]> wrote: > > > Benjamin Franklin once stated that "Any society that would give up a > > little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose > > both. " And so it seems in the latest ongoing debate in Missoula, > > Montana about "limiting aggressive panhandling" downtown. See > >http://missoulian.com/articles/2009/07/29/news/local/news04.txt > > One might well ask, well aren't their already laws on the books that > > deal with aggressive behaviors? And the of course, why aren't they > > being enforced? Why is it that the police have a need to add another > > $100 ticket to their arsenal in order to do something constructive > > about aggressive and intimidating behaviors of panhandlers? Why > > doesn't Missoula's City Council just bite the bullet and ban > > "panhandlers" altogether from our beautiful downtown? Out of sight, > > out of mind? The real problems of and with the "homeless" both here > > and all across America are economic, social and addiction related. > > Maybe, instead of exacerbating the situation further, the City Council > > and the police should instead spend a week on the streets, and get a > > whole new perspective on the "problem." You know, walk a mile in their > > shoes. They are humans after all. > > > Just like you and me. > > And in Montana, they, like everyone else, have what Montana's > > Constitution calls inalienable rights - Article ll - Section 3. "They > > include the right to a clean and healthful environment and the rights > > of pursuing life's basic necessities, enjoying and defending their > > lives and liberties, acquiring, possessing and protecting property, > > and seeking their safety, health and happiness in all lawful ways." > > > Before City Councilors, the Mayor or the Police assume office, > > (including their "Rules of Professional Conduct") they must swear the > > following oath of office: “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will > > support, protect and defend the constitution of the United States, and > > the constitution of the state of Montana, and that I will discharge > > the duties of my office with fidelity (so help me God).” > > > And finally, you and I and every other taxpayer is being asked to > > "pay" for our City Council and additional police to deal with yet > > "another" problem. And what of all the other "problems" we Missoulians > > are already "paying" for? Why do we still have murders, rapes, > > assaults, burglaries, theft, auto-theft, arson, fights etc in > > Missoula, MT at all? Why? > > > So maybe, the real issue is this: Missoulians giving up more of our > > essential liberties on the pretext that our police don't have enough > > laws at their disposal to deal with aggressive and/or intimidating > > behaviors, downtown (only during the summer, of course). > > > Well, in Missoula, we simply call this situation mere political bull > > pucky playing .... > > > So, once again, Benjamin Franklin stated that "Any fool can criticize, > > condemn and complain and most fools do." > > > So exactly, who are the fools who are complaining about not having the > > means to deal with "aggressive panhandling downtown" and "homeless" > > people sleeping downtown? > > > Well, read the new "proposed" ordinance addressing solicitation and > > intimidating panhandling. and, also, Could these proposed rules > > interfere with Missoulians free speech rights? > > >http://www.speakupmissoula.com/topic/200/Could_the_proposed_panhandli... > > > As always, I'd like to encourage your comments about this important > > topic. > > > thanks, > > > Rick Gold > > Missoula, MT > >http://mtlegal.blogspot.com > >http://mtlegal.wordpress.com- Hide quoted text - > > - Show quoted text - --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum * Visit our other community at http://www.PoliticalForum.com/ * It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls. * Read the latest breaking news, and more. -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
