I think the biggest part of the story which people really miss....is that Garner sustained himself and his family by selling non-taxed cigarettes. He paid the rent, the grocery money, gas money, kid’s clothing, cable bill, etc....by selling pack by pack....smokes.
His undoing was that he hung around store fronts...near the door, and letting people know that they could buy cheaper smokes from him. You’d have to figure on a daily basis....he was taking just from one store...at least $300 in sales. As for tax revenue that he stole from the city and state? I’d take a guess that they lost $100k a year in tax revenue from this guy.
An old rule from Civil War times says that I could set up shop on most any NYC sidewalk and sell whatever I wish. But then I’d have to live there.
Disabled veteran street vendors
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disabled_veteran_street_vendors
You know - I don’t blame him for trying to feed his family doing something that was illegal but not particularly nasty of injurious to others. That being said his real undoing was not submitting to arrest when he knew what he was doing was wrong.
He probably would have been out of jail on bail that afternoon if he had just put his arms behind his back and copped it sweet. The judge would have probably given him a fine and he could have gone on with his little business in another location.
I worked in Security for 25 years - when you caught someone 25 years ago they would hang their heads and go reasonably quietly. Now they threaten you, promise to come back and get you (sometimes these are not empty threats), swear at you and, if they are able they will take you on. Somehow they blame you for their arrest - this is our world and it sucks!
I wonder if the store owner has a family. I wonder if he has to pay rent. I wonder if he and his family eat. I wonder if they have to buy gas. I wonder if their kids need clothing. I guess it’s okay if they have cable, right?
The laws may not suit you or I, but they are laws that were devised by legal means. Business owners have to comply with them. If they are going to play by the rules, don’t they deserve to survive?
If they do, shouldn’t the person who is doing something illegal be asked to stop, made to stop?
Folks, where is the disconnect with law and order here? There are a lot of laws I don’t like, but as an adult I accept them and move on. If I’m angry about them, I contact my local representative or city council and object.