Panhandlers Out In Excessive Heat With Children Or Pets Sparks Concern

Image Credit: Mt. Juliet Police Department / Facebook

The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –

It’s becoming an increasingly familiar sight – a woman stands under a tree with a young child in a stroller in the parking lot at Lowe’s, a couple hold a sign near an intersection as you leave Walmart, a man and his dog sit close to where drivers are exiting the interstate. All have some kind of handwritten sign communicating the hard times they’ve fallen on as they hope for drivers to stop and hand them a few bucks.

It’s not just the bigger cities like Chattanooga and Nashville where this scenario plays out, but everywhere in Tennessee. 

With the excessive heat that the Volunteer State has been experiencing this summer, some Tennesseans are concerned to see panhandlers out with children or pets in what could potentially be a dangerous situation.

Tennessee’s Department of Children’s Services (DCS) said in a statement to FOX 17 News last week that they have received calls from worried citizens as the heat index makes temperatures feel like triple digits. DCS has said that they are less concerned about the fact that parents are panhandling and are more interested in whether the children involved are safe and being cared for.

Anyone who has spent any time on local community social media pages knows that many panhandlers are being less than honest about why they are asking for handouts. As a result some cities have taken steps to discourage residents from giving money to those who are panhandling.

***Click HERE to support Conservative Journalism in Tennessee. We can’t cover stories like this without your support!***

Last year, the city of Mount Juliet put up signs that read “Say no to panhandling. Contribute to the solution. Give to local charities.” In a social media post, the Mount Juliet Police Department alerted the community to the new signs: 

You will notice these newly placed signs around Mt. Juliet starting today. Please know while people and businesses in Mt. Juliet are generous and compassionate, giving cash to panhandlers isn’t a long-term solution.

The Mt. Juliet Police Department takes a proactive and graceful approach with panhandlers around town, and does everything in their authority to get panhandlers help if they’re willing to receive it.

If you would like to help out those in need, please consider donating to the Mt. Juliet Help Center, or a local charity of your choice. Specifically with the Mt. Juliet Help Center, you can donate non-perishable and perishable food items, donate financially, sponsor a food drive, or volunteer.

A 2015 Tennessee code TN Code § 39-17-313 (2015) makes aggressive panhandling a criminal offense if an individual solicits a donation of money or goods in the following manner:

(1) By intentionally touching the person being solicited without the person’s consent;

(2) By intentionally obstructing the path of the person, or of the vehicle of the person, being solicited;

(3) By following a person who is walking away from the person soliciting the donation, unless that person has indicated that the person wishes to make a donation; or

(4) By making any statement, gesture, or other communication that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear of personal harm for refusing a solicitation of a donation.

A first violation is a Class C misdemeanor. A second or subsequent violation is a Class B misdemeanor punishable by fine or a term of imprisonment not to exceed 90 days, or both.

About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.