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That is an oversimplification. It is always legal to share with friends and visitors. What the law relates to is the chaos that can ensue. If you start feedi
by m0llusk 7y ago
That is an oversimplification. It is always legal to share with friends and visitors. What the law relates to is the chaos that can ensue. If you start feeding a lot of homeless then you will start getting a lot of homeless around. They will set up camps, leave trash and shit and needles around, and petty property crimes will increase. Because of the reliably repeatable downsides that come with philanthropy some limits are enforced. This is similar to it being illegal to shout "Fire!" in a crowded theater or illegal to play music at volumes that cause intense distress to those around you.
- peterwwillis 7y agoThe law (which varied by municipality) was enforced against Food Not Bombs pop-up events as well as random people. It wasn't created to stop homeless encampments, trash or needles, because encampments don't just show up wherever someone gives out sandwiches. Homeless encampments happen under bridges, near railways, and other places where they can actually keep their stuff and won't get hassled by the cops. Almost every other state in America deals with this the "traditional way", by having cops kick their ass until they move somewhere out of public view. Florida (and one or two other states) want to prevent them from coming to the state at all, so they're trying to make it harder to live there.