Two men are filing a lawsuit after they were given a ticket for feeding bologna sandwiches to the homeless in St. Louis, seeking to change the city's rules about food distribution.
According to US News, the incident took place when Rev. Ray Redlich of New Life Evangelistic Center and Christopher Ohnimus were giving out sandwiches to the homeless on Halloween, which prompted the police to issue a city court summons. The reason given to the plaintiffs for the ticket was that a city ordinance prohibits food that is prepared in the home from being given to the public.
Although the city counselor dropped the case, the requirements still stand and if the two men want to continue handing out food, they would be required to get a food service establishment permit, which would be a lengthy and expensive process.
Freedom Center of Missouri, the group that is representing the two men, commented on the situation and why the plaintiffs are suing the city over such a seemingly small issue.
"The ordinance essentially subjects ordinary citizens to the same regulations the city imposes on restaurants or other established, permitted food establishments when it comes to sharing food with the homeless," David Roland of Freedom Center of Missouri told St. Louis Record.
The plaintiffs are seeking a judge's order that would allow individuals to feed the homeless without having to comply with the ordinance that sets such high standards for individual do-gooders.
"It is both too expensive and completely impractical for ordinary citizens to comply with these regulations," Roland said.
"October 31 was the first time these plaintiffs were cited, but we have heard from several others who had previously faced citation or threats of enforcement," Roland said.
The Freedom Center of Missouri filed the lawsuit on January 8 in federal court.