Panhandling pariahs

An incident on Wednesday in Vancouver proves that cops need to start getting tough on these "bums" that pray on our forgiveness. The incident in question involves the "cowardly" attack on a 79-year-old man.

Vancouver police said a panhandler robbed and assaulted the 79-year-old man inside a church. As he comes out, the senior more than generously $5 to the panhandler. Quite a hit to the average pensioner's wallet. The "scum" is not happy with that and that's when he grabs the seniors wallet, throws him on the ground and goes to get the wallet. He takes some quantity of money out of it and takes off.

Canadians need to stop doling out their hard earned cash for panhandlers, addicts, and drunks to continue their lifestyle and feed their habits.

Yes, government cuts have left fewer social programs to deal with this issue, but that doesn't excuse the increasing numbers; especially those under 25 years of age; because it is an easy lifestyle if you don't mind a few creature discomforts.
Who's fault is that?

There is no question that the government is to blame for much of the problem by cutting social programs over the years. But that does not change the fact that there ARE plenty of temp jobs out there and there ARE alternatives for many. And those that are not capable of holding a job or changing their lifestyle need to be in a care situation somewhere off the street.

This is a proverbial "500lbs. gorilla on our backs" that needs to be dealt with and judging by the number of people who flood the call in shows and letters to the editor who express how fed up with this crap they are, tough measures are long overdue. Hard working, tax paying citizens DO NOT deserve to have to deal with this every time they walk down the street.

As the bible states "give them a fish, feed them for a day, teach them how to fish, feed them for life. Giving them ANYTHING will not help!

Tough measures are the only solution, if they won't use the services we provide to clean themselves up and get meaningful employment, then arrest them for vagrancy, harassment, and force them into treatment, before it leads to more serious crimes.

I DO NOT give money to panhandlers, EVER. Why enable their poor choices and drug addiction. If you wish to give money to their cause, charities like the Salvation Army and the good Shepherd are good choices.


Later,
Kenaz