~Arrested For It~
By Jennifer
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
Valdosta, Georgia
August 9, 2017 11:53am CST
Hey everyone I hope your doing well. Today has been good so far.
So, the homeless guy that makes those amazing flowers I shared told us a bit about himself and his situation.
He is an alcoholic and was fired from his job. He lost his home, job and family. He is now working on staying sober after hitting rock bottom.
He sells these flowers he makes, but he has been arrested many times for doing this without a license. I get that the law is the law but as I said in my other discussion, this is way better than just asking everyone for money I think...
He isn't hurting anyone, he's trying to better himself, and he doesn't harass anyone.
What are your thoughts?
30 people like this
30 responses
@toniganzon (72281)
• Philippines
10 Aug 17
The law may be harsh but it is the law. However, if I were the law enforcer, I would let that man be. Better for him to do that than steal.
3 people like this
@toniganzon (72281)
• Philippines
10 Aug 17
@LovingMyBabies Yeah I think it's being humane to just let him be.
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
10 Aug 17
@toniganzon Yeah I would not mess with someone who isn't hurting anyone either.
2 people like this
@TiarasOceanView (70022)
• United States
9 Aug 17
Geez that doesn´t seem right ...
3 people like this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
9 Aug 17
@Tiarasoceanview I agree, it's not right at all.
3 people like this
@TiarasOceanView (70022)
• United States
9 Aug 17
@LovingMyBabies Yet the criminals get away with murder.
3 people like this
@RasmaSandra (79833)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
9 Aug 17
My thoughts are if he really has talent can someone help him get a permanent place to live and perhaps help him get on his feet so he can do it all legally or perhaps some florist or specialty shop might be willing to hire him to make these special flowers so he can begin a new life.
3 people like this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
9 Aug 17
@Rasmasandra Yeah I wish we could help but we're not in a good situation either at the moment. It's sad to me that he gets arrested for making these when he's trying to improve his situation.
1 person likes this
@poehere (15123)
• French Polynesia
9 Aug 17
I think it is terrible to arrest this man. I know they require a license to sell on the streets. Here on the islands people do it all the time and they have never been arrested. It is a sad day when a person wants to try and get off the streets and all the police do is arrest him. I hope he can find his way back. He sounds like he is trying hard.
2 people like this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
10 Aug 17
@poehere I agree with you! He's not doing anything wrong. He's trying to better his life.
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
10 Aug 17
@poehere I know, he needs some help so he can go further with his gift.
@poehere (15123)
• French Polynesia
10 Aug 17
@LovingMyBabies Too bad there isn't a community help center that will help him sell his flowers. They are beautiful and well made. I am sure someone would want to sponsor him. He does have talent.
2 people like this
@Courtlynn (67085)
• United States
9 Aug 17
That stinks. I agree with you. Its not like hes jsut going around trying to get money. Hes trying to work for it.
2 people like this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
9 Aug 17
@Courtlynn Yeah it's against the law because the city wants more money. 
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
9 Aug 17
@Courtlynn Exactly, they keep arresting him and giving him more fines to pay. It's stupid when he isn't hurting anyone.
2 people like this
@Courtlynn (67085)
• United States
9 Aug 17
@LovingMyBabies i mean i get it if its a law hes not obeying but come on
2 people like this
@andriaperry (116936)
• Anniston, Alabama
9 Aug 17
I see nothing wrong with it. It would be nice if he could make A LOT of them and set up at trade day or a flea market.
3 people like this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
9 Aug 17
@andriaperry Problem with that is, if your homeless you don't have a way to get to the fleamarkets. Plus they want money up front, not after you sell some.
1 person likes this
@Tina30219 (81922)
• Onaway, Michigan
9 Aug 17
You are right he is not hurting nothing by doing this.I hope he gets sober and gets his life back on track.
2 people like this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
9 Aug 17
@Tina30219 Yeah, he's doing what he loves and minding his own business doing it. Sad.
1 person likes this
@Tina30219 (81922)
• Onaway, Michigan
9 Aug 17
@LovingMyBabies Yeah it is very sad.
2 people like this
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
9 Aug 17
i read the other post earlier. this picture showing the stem is even prettier.
when he gets arrested, does he have to pay a fine or something?
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
9 Aug 17
@hereandthere Yes he pays fines, which tells me its all about the money-that's why he gets arrested.
2 people like this
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
10 Aug 17
@LovingMyBabies then it's one step forward, two steps backward in terms of his earnings. 
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
10 Aug 17
I do think sometimes a little compassion goes a long way in helping people more than regulations.
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
10 Aug 17
@Bellestarr I agree, this is why so many people have bad opinions about police officers.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
11 Aug 17
@LovingMyBabies I suspect though they don't have a choice if someone complains they have to enforce the law.
@LeaPea2417 (37351)
• Toccoa, Georgia
10 Aug 17
That is not right. I wonder how much it would cost to get a license to sell?
2 people like this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
10 Aug 17
@Leapea2417 I dont think it's right either. I'm not sure how much that license would cost.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (51190)
• Canada
10 Aug 17
That is quite a stretch to think that he should need a license, I think that you're allowed to make a certain amount of money without claiming it. You can in our province anyways.
Hopefully he'll come up with another way to get back on his feet, its got to be better then pan-handling, I see a lot of that in our city.
2 people like this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
10 Aug 17
@Juliaacv Here when your selling anything you need a license. Which I personally think is stupid.
Yeah, he's trying to better himself.
2 people like this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
10 Aug 17
@bluesa I agree! He needs help, not sit behind bars. Sad.
1 person likes this
@bluesa (15022)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
10 Aug 17
@LovingMyBabies life can sometimes be so unfair. It is sad. I hope that he can eventually get that licence.
@kobesbuddy (78882)
• East Tawas, Michigan
10 Aug 17
@LovingMyBabies Yes, this man has definitely learned, by the mistakes he has made. The law should leave him alone and let this fella buy his own food, doing something constructive and honest!:)
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
10 Aug 17
@kobesbuddy Exactly, he isn't hurting anyone and he's trying to better his life.
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (78882)
• East Tawas, Michigan
10 Aug 17
@LovingMyBabies I don't understand, how that's such an offense!:(
@kobesbuddy (78882)
• East Tawas, Michigan
10 Aug 17
@LovingMyBabies I could see, if he was stumbling and staggering around the streets. But, selling hand-made flowers? Good grief :(
@GardenGerty (160663)
• United States
9 Aug 17
If it is by donation then it could be argued he is not really selling. Of course by your husband giving him a sandwich, that is barter and not selling.. How much would a license cost?
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
10 Aug 17
@Gardengerty That's true, that's not selling. However, they could say it's not for a big enough cause or something stupid.
I'm not sure how much the license here costs. I know for remodeling it would cost my husband hundreds of dollars.
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
10 Aug 17
@Ambiepam I don't understand it either, he's trying to do better for himself.
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
9 Aug 17
@dodo19 I feel the same way. Leave him alone and let him better himself, geez. I hope so too.
1 person likes this
@xstitcher (32465)
• Petaluma, California
9 Aug 17
Aw. That is so great that he was doing what he was doing instead of panhandling. Some laws just seem so ridiculous.1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
9 Aug 17
@jstory07 I agree, just more money for the city if they arrest him. Sad.
1 person likes this
@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
9 Aug 17
My thoughts are that once a person hits rock bottom, laws like that prevent people from getting their footing again. I am sure there was/ is a need for such law and sure it serves its purpose but the poor has to be at disadvantage. Why? Besides this, I think I read something about not getting hired if a person doesn't have a permanent address. So, the homeless are pretty much doomed, aren't they?
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
9 Aug 17
@Daljinder Your absolutely right! They make it impossible to get back where you need to be-no wonder some of them drink! It's a sad world we live in.
