To the editor:

In response to Mike Hoeflich’s article (Journal-World, Oct. 20) one must assume he has not had some of my and my family’s experiences with panhandlers in downtown Lawrence. One man twice has become quite violent when I turned him down for a donation, once chasing me around my car hurling expletives and fists, missing me and hitting my car.

Then there was the guy that said “God bless you” for the dollar I gave him, but two weeks later yelled “you fat +#%/&” when I politely said I had no change. Oh, and then there was the guy that asked my son for money when he was walking home from Central Junior High. When he refused, the man proceeded to grab him and search his pockets.

Perhaps being a man, Mr. Hoeflich has not had to deal with some of the more frightening aspects of the homeless. There are times I really hate going downtown because of those past experiences.

Michelle Babcock,

Lawrence