In Honor of Veterans Day

McGyver

2009-11-13 17:18:54 UTC

Post by Rick
Yesterday, November 11, 2009, I ran into a homeless guy in Missoula
and he had a very interesting and sad story to relate. It seems he's a
Veteran and homeless and has medical problems
In addition to this, last Friday, November 6, 2009, he was camped 3
miles up Kim Williams trail, where he had been for nearly a month. He
said, he had no idea that he was in the Missoula City limits, where it
appears that camping out is unlawful (so much for the Boy and Girl
scouts camping anyway near Missoula City).
He kept his camp clean, not wanting to attract unwanted attention. He
was awakened early Friday morning by Missoula City Police and Missoula
Parks and Recreation people and promptly told them he had an
outstanding warrant for a misdemeanor (a fine) which he couldn't show
up for because of his health issues, so he was taken to County Jail.
Before leaving, he asked the police, if his camp site would be
unmolested since he was well equiped for the upcoming winter. The
police, asumming he would not get out until Monday, said it would
still be there when he got out.
Well, he was processed and released again Friday within one hour of
his incarceration. But, after walking back to his camp site, he found
that his camp and all his winter equipment was gone.
He was angry and destitute, and went to the Missoula Police to report
the theft, but has of yet not gotten his equipment or camp back. He
believes the Missoula Parks and Recreation people took all his things,
as they and the Police were the only ones around.
Hey Missoula, Montana, what happened to our inalienable rights in the
City of Missoula?

Still intact.

Post by Rick
Montana Constitution, Article ll - Section 3. Inalienable rights. All
persons are born free and have certain inalienable rights. They
include the right to a clean and healthful environment and the rights
of pursuing life's basic necessities, enjoying and defending their
lives and liberties, acquiring, possessing and protecting property,
and seeking their safety, health and happiness in all lawful ways.
In Honor of Veterans Day, I ask, aren't homeless Veteran's people too,
under Montana's Constitution? Aren't homeless people?

Yes. Yes.

Post by Rick
As always, Think about it and I'd like to encourage your comments
about this important topic. Please feel free to ask your City
Councilor or Your City Attorney or Your City Employee (this could also
apply to County or State) ...

Ask them what?

A crime called theft may have been committed. Or maybe some city official
had the right to remove the stuff. And maybe the cop was wrong in
predicting or promising that the stuff would still be there. If it is
illegal to camp within the city limits, how did any city employee fall under
any obligation to leave an illegal camp untouched?

What does the camper's status as veteran have to do with any of the above?

I think you are right to be saddened by these events that harmed a homeless
person and by the circumstances of a veteran. Even anger and outrage would
be laudable if properly directed. But some attention to perspective would
not go amiss. Every crime does not equal violation of the constitution.
And every combination of circumstances harmful to a veteran doesn't equal
outrageous mistreatment by the government.

I would think your outrage would be better vented by campaigning to improve
the circumstances of homeless people or homeless veterans, or the
sensitivity of legislators and cops to the effects of poverty, rather than
trying to characterize a simple theft as an outrage against all civilization
just because the victim is a veteran.

McGyver