Monday, March 7, 2011

The Hillsborough County Panhandling Ban and Political Correctness

Regarding dolphins, it is a violation of federal law to feed dolphins. The logic being, in part, that they become dependant and will no longer fend for themselves.
 
So why do we allow people to give money to panhandlers, thereby causing them to become dependant and no longer willing to fend for themselves?
 
The Marine Mammal Protection Act - (MMPA) 16 U.S.C. §§ 1361-1421g prohibits the feeding of Dolphins.
 
Section 1372 (a)(1) of the MMPA declares it unlawful - "...for any person subject to the jurisdiction of the United States or any vessel or other conveyance subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to take any marine mammal on the high seas."

"Taking" under the MMPA is defined in the statute to mean "to harass, hunt, capture, or kill, or attempt to harass, hunt, capture, or kill any marine mammal." 16 U.S.C. § 1362(11)A.

In 1991, the NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service) amended the definition of "take" to include "feeding or attempting to feed" as an example of "harassment" under the MMPA. 56 F.R. 11693. The NMFS found that feeding populations of marine mammals is contrary to the intent and purpose of the MMPA because it disrupts their natural behavior and normal feeding patterns (Information in the preceeding paragraph cited from: www.animallaw.info/articles/ddusdolphins.htm#mmpatoday

On the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration web site, (http://www.publicaffairs.noaa.gov/pr95/aug95/noaa95-r142.html), Nancy Foster, deputy director of NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service stated, that feeding these marine mammals can make them less able -- or willing -- to search for food on their own. She further stated, "Dolphins that become desensitized toward humans are highly at risk of getting entangled in commercial fishing nets, hit by boat propellers, exposed to polluted water, or being intentionally harassed by people,"
I suggest that people who become desensitized toward panhandling are at a higher risk of darting into traffic, being hit by motor vehicles, exposed to cancer causing UV rays from the sun, or being intentionally harassed by people.

People throw money at panhandlers, in some situations, to feel good about themselves without having to work too hard at dealing with some level of guilt or pity.  The panhandlers would be better served if, rather then holding a dollar bill out the window of their car, people would take the time to direct these panhandlers to one of the many agencies at which government is already throwing buckets of money. Agencies that are set up to deal with the indigent and homeless. Simpley google "government programs for homeless" to see the overwhelming list of these agencies.

Hillsborough County voted recently, 6-1, to ban panhandling on all County roads. The City of Tampa, though, has failed to take any action. other then to NOT pass a proposed ban on panhandling.  The County law enforcement agencies will most likely hand out warnings to first timers in violation of the Hillsborough County Ordinance.  Repeat offenders can face fines of up to $500 and/or 60 days in jail.

As St. Petersburg Times writer Bill Varian stated in is article in the Times, on March 3, 2011, Hillsborough County Deputies will also look for services such as mental health counseling or shelter for homeless people. In his article, Varian quoted Col. Greg Brown of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's office. "The goal is not to put these people in jail," Brown said. "It's to get them off the roadway."

Are we to remain a society of enablers?   Do we really care more about marine mammals then our brothers and sisters, or has political correctness driven us to a path of less resistance?