To the editor:

In response to Jon Maas’ call to ban panhandling (Public Forum, Oct. 22), I would only say that I’m glad he was able to endure the inconvenience and terror of being asked for pocket change on his way into Home Depot. The outrage he feels at being asked to help someone else while trying to furnish or make minor repairs to his own home is testament to his moral strength and courage.

All sarcasm aside, Mr. Maas responded to a panhandler by telling her, “no.” Why does it need to be easier than that? He says that Lawrencians are surely not proud of panhandlers, so the appropriate response would be to ban them. I would say that Lawrence should indeed be ashamed of panhandlers, if for no other reason than that the callous disregard Mr. Maas shows for their welfare sends a terrible signal about some in our community.

Instead of banning panhandling, we should heed the advice of Pastor Heacock in the Pulse section on the same day. Those who help the poor honor God. I’d go further and say that those who help the poor, rather than disdain them for simply being poor, honor us all.

Jacob Stutzman,

Lawrence