All of us, I think, see things throughout the day that raise our hackles

Don’t know what that means? You’re probably too young for it to matter, but I’ll explain anyway.

Hackles are the hairs on the back of a dog’s neck which stand up when it is angry.

Thus, when our hackles are raised, we’re angry about something.

“Things” used to bother me a lot more than they do now, but my hackles can still rise. Sitting behind the publisher’s desk at this newspaper gives me the privilege of hearing from a lot of people who are upset about one thing or another. As you might imagine, some of the things which make people angry are purely personal in nature — someone has done them wrong.

I listen politely to these folks, offer suggestions as to how they might be able to solve these problems and wish them well.

Then there are those who come in with concerns that affect all of us. Many times, that which has caused them concern has “raised my hackles” as well.

Such was the case yesterday when a friend came in to discuss an issue that has come up before: handicapped parking, or rather the abuse thereof.

We shared our thoughts on it and then he handed me a handwritten note. He signed it but said he’d rather not use his name as it may detract from the real issue. Here’s what he had to say:

Dear Cody,

As I go about different businesses throughout town, I tend to get upset when I see people who are not disabled or handicapped, parked in the handicapped parking spaces. Some have a handicapped permit hanging from the mirror, some don’t. How are these permits acquired?

I do realize a doctor signs for people who need to have the permit and feel this is one of the best things we have done to enable handicapped people to have a closer spot to the business. This is covered by law. Where is the enforcement?

For example, yesterday in the Wal-Mart parking lot, I watched as two people parked in a handicapped space, jumped from the vehicle and ran into the store because it was raining. They did have a handicapped sign hanging on the mirror.

Did the permit belong to them, or did they borrow it from someone, or did the owner of the permit allow them to use it? Is this fair to someone who truly is handicapped and takes longer getting in or out of the car (even in the rain) and then has farther to go because of someone’s selfish act?

I am neither disabled or handicapped, but may some day be so. To these selfish people, I say “Shame on you.” The day will come when you find yourself really needing that special parking space and will be looking elsewhere also. A few extra steps never hurt anyone — try it, you just may feel better about yourself.

— An anonymous friend to my fellow man

While out to lunch after that meeting I rode around a couple of large parking lots just to check things out. While I did not see any obvious abuses of handicapped parking, I did see A LOT of cars with handicapped permits hanging from rear view mirrors. A good many of these vehicles were of the sports car variety that a physically handicapped person would find extremely difficult to get in and out of. Shoot, I’m a pretty able-bodied man and I would have had trouble entering and exiting some of them.

It would be next to impossible to catch someone improperly using a handicap tag or permit and fine them. Peer pressure might be the answer for a partial solution as nothing is going to eliminate abuse completely.

I’m not telling you to confront abusers you see — that could be dangerous — but you can admonish friends and/or family members if they try to beat the system.

Cody Sossamon (cody@gaffneyledger.com) is publisher of The Gaffney Ledger.