ST. LOUIS (KMOX) — Should St. Louis County get rid of its old law against panhandling?
It's a question the St. Louis County Council has been considering as it looks for more ways to help the homeless.
At Tuesday night's County Council meeting, Reverand Larry Rice will speak out against the law, already the subject of a federal lawsuit, filed by Clayton Attorney Beavis Schock. Rice says not all who beg are drug addicts.
"I run into people all the time out at what they refer to as panhandling," Rice said. "I see it as they're just trying to get enough to live for the night. Many of the people don't have any kind of shelter. If they don't collect enough money from the general public, they won't be able to get into what we refer to as cheap hotels, which are $35 or $40 a night."
Rice will bring to the meeting a 72-year old homeless woman, who once owned a business in Ladue. However, she lost it all -- and ended up homeless -- when she had heart problems.