If they whip out an iPhone they probably don’t need that plug in credit card thing.

I have accounts with three different banks. Two of them allow me to transfer money to another persons account by text. They get a text to a link, put in their bank account details and hey presto, money transferred immediately.

Technology today.

I just pull out my badge case...…

And tell em I'd be happy to call the local PD or SO to come by and help them out.

The deadbeats just disappear to some where's else.


.

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

Around my neck of the woods it is fairly common at Christmas time. Lots of beggars and folks passing out religious pamphlets. I don't let 'em even get started. Not much during the rest of the year.

I don't get into conversations with them. That's what they want. I just put an open hand in their face and if I speak at all I just say one word, " SCRAM". If they persist I just slowly and subtly put my right hand on my hip. They all seem to understand the implication of that just fine.

One incident stands out in what's left of my mind: Guy came up to me in a Kroger parking lot moving a little too fast to suit me. Sounded a little bit desperate. Said he was a preacher. Said he was taking his daughter to the emergency room as she had closed a car door on her hand and broken a couple of fingers.

After "scram" he wanted to push it. Said she was sitting in his car, which was out of gas on the street. Wanted me to take him to a gas station, blah blah blah. I put my open hand on his chest and gently but firmly pushed him back out of the way so I could open my truck door. He spied someone getting out of their car and went running over.

I was their again a couple of days later and there he was again. he saw me and started to approach. When I put my hand up he recognized me and stopped. When he saw me shaking my head he walked off.

I once pulled over in a pic-nic area on the highway to eat a sandwich and drink some coffee on a road trip. It was 1:30 AM. (I love to drive at night on long trips.)

There was a woman sitting in the sliding side door of a custom Ford van. She waited until I had gotten out and set my thermos and lunch sack on
the cement pic-nic table and sat down to eat.

She came over and stuck out her hand and told me her name was joy. Yeah, right. I ignored her and took a bite of my sandwich. She let that slide and went into her pitch.

I never looked at her or said a word. After a bit she went on with story. I took a sip of coffee and another bite of the sandwich. Then we sat there in the silent darkness and listened to the sounds of me chewing.

Then she finally got around to it.... I looked over at her and then at the van to see if there were any signs of some guy hanging around in there. I felt the Glock 36 (Compact .45 auto) on my hip and felt comforted.

She saw me looking at the van and quickly assured me that she was alone and we wouldn't be disturbed.

I declined her offer and politely asked her to leave me alone. She went and sat back in the van for a while. then she left. As she pulled out I made a mental note of the plate.

I sat there for another hour or so, smoking a fine cigar, sippin' coffee and enjoying the cool autumn air. I cranked up and started to pull out when a DPS officer pulled in and rolled up next to me. He asked me if I'd seen a blue Ford van with a lone woman in it. I told him about my encounter and gave him the plate. I asked him what was going on. He just gunned it and took off down the highway.

It was an interesting encounter and is a fun story to tell. Thanks for lettin' me tell it.

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Real men love cats!

Jack—you know times are tough when a poor working girl can’t make a living in a custom van driving the highways at 1:30 in the morning! And the cops were in hot pursuit of her to boot. Joy indeed!

Thanks for the great story at the end of a long day and week so far. I thought today was Thursday—been one of those weeks. 100 degrees in the shade too.

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Possum—The other white meat!

The most blatant thing I've had happen was being hit up for money when I walked through a Walmart parking lot, I declined the request. About 15 minutes later I was in the laundry detergent aisle and the same fellow hit me up for money again. I declined a contribution a second time.

I live among the problem in my part of a major metropolitan area. I see mostly mentally ill folks who are addicted to whatever makes their lives easier to deal with. I also know of a panhandler that is in his mid 60s who drives his 15 - 20 year old Toyota Avalon to work the same corner most every day. He stands on a traffic island with a sign and does well.

The one's that are truly ill and homeless are sad cases, but I will not give them money, food, beer, nothing. Your handout enables them to continue doing what this thread is condemning.

I walk a lot. I walk in the predawn hours. I keep an eye out for what I call nests. Attached is a picture of a nest I took a picture of in February. People will actually sleep (pass out) there. I've found used hypodermics there. It stinks so bad now that it is summer I will not get within 50 yards of the place.

Mostly these folks are harmless, but there have been a couple that raised the hairs on the back of my neck. I just kept moving on to avoid confrontation.

Attached Images

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Years ago a TV station in LA sent out reporter to interview panhandlers working the freeway on-ramps. One guy was very proud of his profession. He said he gets up when he feels like it, only "works" when he feels like it, and drives a late model car. He said he averages of over 200 bucks a day for less than 8 hours on the job, and it's all tax free.

Makes you wonder why people support these guys.......

So you've never been married....?

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

I guess you didnt want a little Joy in your life.

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Don

As I was walking into a Publix. A man approached me in the parking lot. He claimed he lost his job. He had a wife and two kids at home. He needed to buy food.
So instead of giving him money I took him into the store and purchased a big bag of rice. Bag of Potatoes, Boxes of pasta and cans of sauce. Cans of veggies. And a gallon of milk.
I brought them up to the customer service counter, and purchased with my credit card.
I asked the manager to not accept this Man's merchandise or this receipt for return....

If that man fooled me, so be it. I got trolled.
My conscious that day would not permit me to walk away.

Papa

"Do you have $2 for gas so I can get to work"
"I can fix that scratch on your car for $40. I have the tools in my truck"

Too funny! (Sad actually) but I call them “nests” too!

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Oui Chef!

My wife and I were waiting for her bus, and she started talking to a young man...he said he and his wife had just come from Florida in the wake of a vicious hurricane, with just the clothes on their backs. The young woman had just found out she was expecting. All appearances verified their story.
My wife has a very soft heart, and She gave them some money, and we had time, so we took them to the nearest McDonalds.
They seemed grateful.
Were we bunnies? Maybe, but it didn't hurt a bit, and it felt like it was the right thing to do, under the circumstances.
Some people really do need help, and I believe we will be helped to know which those are.

Come on, live on the edge! Since even seemingly innocuous replies can get you banned here, you might as well do it proper.

There’s not much that perturbs me more than panhandlers. If they took the time they spent trolling parking lots or sitting at intersections, they’d have more than enough time to get cleaned up and apply for a job. Looking at the local Walmart talent, it shouldn’t be too difficult to land a job, especially since they’re already familiar with the parking lot.

In many, if not most, mid-sized and larger cities there are social programs for the indigent and homeless that will at least keep them fed and clothed and often provide a place to sleep. That's why I am so suspicious of the guys with the cardboard signs. I always figured that what money they get by panhandling goes for cheap wine and/or drugs.

They do it because it works.

Yesterday, I went to Office Depot to look to see what computers they had on display. They didn't have any of the ones I wanted to check out. As I was leaving to walk out the door, I saw a man, dressed in a suit but no tie. The man, which looked to be around 35 or so, ask if I had any spare money, but I just ignore him and kept walking.

As I was walking out to my car, I hear someone behind me and when I turned my head to look, there was the man and he was just over an arm reach away from, directly behind me. I immediately stepped to my right and spun 90 degrees and pulled my shirt up and had my hand on my gun and looked at the man. I ask him "What the Hell are you doing"?

Instead of him walking away from me or saying "excuse me", he walked right in front of me so close I could have held out my hand and touch him. The guy never even looked at me. I waited until he passed by several steps before I walked to my car. He left before I could get his license number.

I guess he thought I was an easy mark as I'm 71.

I tolerate parking lots because they are necessary, but that's my limit.

• I despise inconsiderate people who park as though they are more important than everyone else.
• It irritates me that people can't be bothered to put their carts away.
• It's infuriating when someone blocks the entire aisle waiting for a space when there's an empty one two spaces further away.
• Seriously? They just open their door and dump trash on the ground? Diapers? SERIOUSLY?

I park far away to avoid most of this stupidity and yet some seem to track me down. I haven't been propositioned for cash in a parking lot yet, but I'm sure it's coming.

Yeah, I don't like parking lots. One day, these wonderful people will get to me. I dread the outcome because it won't be pretty.

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Freedom isn't free.

My standard comment is; "hey, I'm working this side of the street."
Some mumble something and move on, others just move on.
I don't try to start a confrontation with anybody but I keep my eye on anyone that approaches me in like manner.

The best one I ever saw was a guy with a dog. Around the dogs neck was a sign that said, "I'm with stupid." He did pretty well it seemed.

I've noticed signs at several local intersections asking people to not give panhandlers anything. The sign then directs those really needing help to the county dept of social services, or some such agency. I don't see many panhandlers around there.

Honestly, most of the time I just say "sorry" but from time to time, something tells me, "this one" and I'll pass along a couple of bucks. I tell myself that's the Holy Spirit talking to me, and I just can't ignore it.

Matthew 25:40 "The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'

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John 3:16 .

I would give this guy a buck any day, and a bar of soap.

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Don

I normally put up a hand and say, in my best police voice, “Get away from me.” So far it’s worked but my left hand is always close to my front pocket just in case.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

I have had two experiences in Baltimore where I was approached by somebody who said they wanted something to eat. They sounded like they were all there and when I suggested I would get them something to eat they were glad for it. That way I know I have helped somebody who was in need but didn't feel like I was being an enabler for any kind of substance abuse problem.

I gave $20 to a kid in Washington National in 2005. Still waiting for him to pay me back.

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Mike
S&WCA #3065

My 18 y/o grandson & I just finished breakfast when saw a panhandler out front. I asked if he was hungry and when he said he was I escorted him inside and gave the waitress $20, and told her to give him anything he wanted. This way I’m sure the panhandler did not drink my $$ but got a good meal b/c I eat there often and know the staff.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

If he can afford a five-dollar pack of cigarettes, he can afford a one-dollar beer.

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I always take precautions

I live near a small town in the Sierra Nevada foothills. For many years we never had the bums come thru here. Now they are all over the place. Begging at Walmart & living down by the river. Real dead beats. I don't give them anything.

I agree with the last bullet point. Some people are absolutely filthy.

For the others, "despise ... irritate ... infuriating ..." ?
Don't work yourself into a heart attack over this stuff.

I also park as far away as I can from the folks who seem intent on getting one space closer to the door, or die trying. I need the exercise anyways. Best to stay away from stores on Saturday and Sunday, unless you go really early so as to get there when the thundering herds are still sleeping off their hangovers.

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You're shy a few manners.

In my area it seems this happens the most in Wawa parking lots.

I will not give money to any of these people, but if the situation seems right, I will offer to buy them food (or offer to pay for the fuel, at the pump, IF they seem legit, NEVER have had any take that offer).

In the over 20 years that I have made the offer of food, only 1 person has ever taken it. I had him follow me in and had him order a sandwich and soup from a ordering terminal, and then also got him a coffee, took the receipt and coffee, paid for it, and handed it back to him. It was a cold winter night and as I left he thanked me over and over again. I will admit I had a very good feeling the rest of that night and I will always offer that, but never money.

I’m usually going A to B.
Car to store or back. So I just nod or say no and keep on going.
I try not to engage or enrage.

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

I hate to say no, but I do.

Once, after being approached I offered the young college aged person $100 for the new mountain bike he was riding. He mumbled something as he rode off.

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Isaiah 41:10

For some, it's just their "job". I routinely see the same people working various parking lots to get money. They wear clean, but stained clothing and carry signs noting their status as disabled, homeless, parents, religious, veterans or whatever will work that day. Unfortunately, I caught their "shift change" one day when a large white van pulled up, picked up the "worker" and dropped off his replacement. All in the van just shrugged and the driver stated "it pays the bills."

I saw a similar event in a busy parking lot. A van pulled in and 3 guys got out, walked to the back and took out a stack of cardboard signs. They sifted through them, pulled out the ones they wanted, and walked to their appropriate positions. The van soon left, but not before placing an ice chest in the bushes for the guys to use....probably just filled with nice cool water.

This is quality advice that we all should follow. Alas, it bugs me and I'm working on myself to let this stuff just roll off. Still, inconsiderate people bug me. One day I hope to get past it.

One time I was walking out of a grocery store. A young man, maybe 20 years old, walks up and says, "Can you give me some money to buy weed? I mean, I don't want to lie." I responded with, "Why don't you get a job?" Not in a mean or condescending way, just asking. This lead to a conversation where he tried to convince me that I didn't understand. I offered help and phone numbers for him, but he was having none of it, he just wanted some weed. I finished by telling him that I wouldn't support his illegal activity.

It's my hope that the conversation helped him, but I never saw him again. If nothing else, talking to him let at least 20 people get past without being accosted by this guy.

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Freedom isn't free.

You should have told him you had a yard full, he could pick all he wanted.

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Don

No mention yet of the most evil, insidious, pervasively persistent as soon as you pass the parking lot pest of all...
Girl Scouts!

Same guy as the why lie I need a beer

Attached Images

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My response is always the same I look them right in the eye and say my religion forbids me from giving money or credit to anyone for any reason ,they don't seem to have a response to that it sort of shocks them I think.

Ooooo Bite your tongue! They're CUTE!

We had this local guy who would walk by busy bus stops, holding his hand out for donations. Called himself Immanuel. He didn't say a word as he walked by. He wore a robe, had long hair, and was scruffy. One day, I directed him to the homeless shelters that were several blocks away. He looked at me as if I were something unpleasant he had stepped in.

Later, he abducted and kept as his sex slave, a 14 year old girl. He was later arrested, and she was returned to her family, but boy! Did he ever play local law enforcement and the court system before and during his trial.

And clever:

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

If i see the bum coming toward me on the sidewalk...

I will ask him for a dollar before he has a chance to ask me. The confusion on his face is priceless. Then, 9 times in 10, he will start to pay me.

I then tell him that I don't need it and continue on my way. No problems.

Here, they are. They seek out the very young or the very old. In some places, the second an elderly person parks, sometimes as many as six or seven of these "fine folk" pop up out of nowhere like vultures. I deal with many that are strung out on kush, crack, or meth and will not hesitate to attack knowing full well the system will do little to them even if they are arrested. Calling the preditory is a gross understatement.

I play chauffuer for my mom occassionally and I have seen them...sadly, more than a few occassions I have had to put my hand "on something" but thankfully and knock on wood I haven't had to go further. I hope I NEVER do.

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The Last Standing Knight

We had a nicely attired younger couple working the post office/ wallmart area here in Ocala. They had a baby buggy that the woman was pushing, and occasionally they would stop along the sidewalk to lean down and interact with all of the proper body language, etc. They had a sign asking for money from traffic that was passing by. The baby needed more than money, it was made of plastic. But, of course, this is Florida.

I have done this before. When I've done it, 100% of the time I got some angry retort. I figure I caught them in their scam and they're angry that I did.

However, if I did this and that person actually offered me money, I would then give them some money. It's been my experience that those who are genuinely in need are the most giving people I've met. They really understand what it means to be in need and are usually willing to help.

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Freedom isn't free.