Opinion
Ft Collins, CO –-(Ammoland.com)- “It is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is, than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring.” ~ Carl Sagan
Beggars:
People openly begging, in public places, is yet another telltale sign of the progressive deterioration of our civilization.
When I was growing-up in the 1960s, public begging was something rarely seen in America. In fact, Americans took great pride in the fact that public begging was a unsavory activity, mostly confined to third-world countries, like Mexico.
Curiously, state-run lotteries used to fall into the same category. Americans were always too proud to stoop to such squalid, dishonorable ways of extracting money from citizens. Mexico had state-run lotteries, but you would never find them here.
All that just a distant memory now, as amoral, money-groveling leftist politicians piously insist that the end always justifies the means.
Back to the modern phenomenon of public begging:
I tell students that public beggars are mostly dishonest, and some are extremely dangerous. Your best interests are thus served by avoidance, particularly when you go armed. When that fails, aggressive verbal disengagement and rapid separation generally represent your best tactic.
In fact, we practice all this in class during roll-playing exercises.
Yet, some insist that an expression of charity (giving beggars money, food, etc) is appropriate, particularly for those of us who profess adherence to established religious beliefs.
Not so!
Giving beggars money, motivated by your own guilt, helps neither them, nor you! It is extortion, pure and simple, plus it exposes you to significant personal risk.
Begging is neither an honorable, nor sustainable, lifestyle! Beggars need to be shown how to make an honest, upright living.
Giving them money just keeps them where they are.
Giving free money to beggars, out of personal guilt, is indicative of a pernicious neurosis! When people receive money which they know and understand they did not earn, and don’t deserve, it degrades both the giver, and the receiver.
No good comes from it!
When you need to give-away money to beggars in order to “feel good,” I suggest you get some competent physiological counseling.
In the interim, “Disengage and Separate!”
/John
About John Farnam & Defense Training International, Inc
As a defensive weapons and tactics instructor John Farnam will urge you, based on your own beliefs, to make up your mind in advance as to what you would do when faced with an imminent lethal threat. You should, of course, also decide what preparations you should make in advance if any. Defense Training International wants to make sure that their students fully understand the physical, legal, psychological, and societal consequences of their actions or inactions.
It is our duty to make you aware of certain unpleasant physical realities intrinsic to the Planet Earth. Mr. Farnam is happy to be your counselor and advisor. Visit: www.defense-training.com
The thing that gets me is the one begging is smoking a cigarette. Hey if you can afford to smoke, you can afford to feed yourself. Another one is the fellow holding a sign saying that he is stranded and needs gas money, he has been on the same corner for over six months. I once asked a fellow holding a sign saying will work for food. I had some yard work I needed help with. When I asked him I was told to F**k Off he was making $400 a day standing there.
As soon as it gets warm here, (rural town) the local Wally World will have one or two Hispanic families all out begging. Never saw this before. Thanks, Obama.
Here in California the Democrats feel so sorry for one and all that they have created laws both local and state wide that defend the beggar and prevent your proposal. For example, downtown Chico just recently renovated the center city park, creating a beautiful 30 foot wide fountain you can walk through in the summer, and a bandstand, bathrooms, seating and rather lush landscaping. This has become the central meeting place for about 100 homeless that have taken over the park during all daytime hours. They nestle with their carts, bikes and bike trailers, and use the space as their… Read more »
I was at a Motorcycle show recently in Wash. DC, there was a booth there collecting for the Homeless Veterans, My son (Marine) and I both gave generously, I’d suggest instead of giving money to questionable beggars you instead look up one of the many organizations that specifically help our past warriors.
Let me see, I have been watching for 66 years now and I am sick of the Left and the Right. Yet I have voted for 48 years, and yes I had Draft # 252 for Vet Nam. Begging is what our Government does and we really should be watchiing them and actually making The USA Great Again. If Trump would man up and cut or drain, and that includes all the powerful Fed Employees and many a Union I would quit considering him a Chump.
@Marky disabled vet: All true but the fact is that the suicide rate for vets is horrendous. And in part it’s a failure of the VA. I know the questions to ask and when it was a vet I’ve given blankets to them. I’d love to talk to them but I’m not qualified so I did what I could.
I visit my GF in Newport, RI during the summer. One corner is allowed for beggars near the famous mansions. These people come in from Fall River MA, drive down in fancy cars and hang out there all day with their signs and harass people on the street. I ignore them. One guy about, 40 yrs old grabbed my arm and told me I should have respect for and help out the vietnam veterans. This clown, with a Hispanic accent, wasn’t born until 10-15 years after the war was over. I’ am not allowed to carry in RI or I’d… Read more »
I see a lot of these Guys claiming to be Vets .
I ask what unit their from, where they were stationed. etc.
From my perspective 60% lied . Stories didn’t hold up.
But the ones that seem credible I give no cash ! I save free
food coupons and give these to them instead. Most thank
me and retreat to the curb. Others get pissy ,those I find
later don’t need the help or just want cash for drugs or booze.
Having worked in DC for decades I agree with one exception, that saddened me to no end, and those are the vets who suffered from PTSD, were not treated by the VA and were not really “beggars” but homeless, wandering the streets.
I had a beggar in front of my business here in Nebraska. When I called the police I was informed that there was no way that he could be dealt with since no customers had complained to them, only to me. I then asked for the dispatcher’s name and reminded them that we had a city ordinance that prohibited loitering (most cities do) stating that I would be filing a complaint with the city council against the employee who refused to enforce the ordinance. The police were there within 5 minutes and told the beggar not to come back. Hmmmm………….