On the morning news it was reported that the City of Hagerstown Maryland had strengthened it's juvenile curfew laws. I know that Baltimore also has a curfew. So, I did a quick Google search and find that at least 500 cities in America have juvenile curfew laws. I found that shocking ! I did not realize that many municipalities in America restricted so much freedom. How can this be ? In this politically correct world of today, with everyone demanding their " rights " how can this be ?
I understand perfectly the reasoning behind these curfews. If you keep the children home, they can't get into trouble. If you keep your children home, they cannot become victims of crime either. By restricting the movement of our youth we can control. The " you " should be you, not the government. I'm not buying that package. We have thousands of laws on the books yet there is still crime ! How can that be ? It is against the law to break the law. Funny thing about that too, recently we have begun to " decriminalize " certain things. The reasoning ? It will alleviate prison crowding and lower the crime rate. It will " free up " the police to concentrate on more serious crime. If we just prohibit anyone from being out at certain times would we then reduce adult criminal activity or adults becoming victims of crimes ? Then the Police need only observe. Anyone out and about past the curfew, lock'em up !
Some will say it is because parents are either unable or unwilling to raise their children. The government is helping by establishing these curfews. I say baloney ! All curfews do is identify a problem. They do not solve the problem. Just as a law identifies what is an unacceptable behavior but does not prevent it happening. Let us not become confused about that.
I have said it before and will continue to say it, you cannot legislate morality. You can provide penalties for actions deemed unacceptable, but that does not guarantee compliance. It is not the function of government to provide a moral basis, that is the function of religion. The function of the " Church. " That was recognized by the founding fathers and incorporated into our founding documents.
Curfews in America ? I find it troubling. Perhaps some of this comes from the fact that I have never experienced it personally. I never had a government mandated restriction on my freedom ! Mom and Dad took care of that. I can not help but see these curfews as an erosion of freedom. Perhaps I was raised in a sheltered environment. I will say this, if I was out and about at any time, and in any place I shouldn't be or doing anything I shouldn't be doing, I was policed ! I was policed by other adult members of the community. Didn't need curfews. I was watched.
I believe if you do not allow children to experience freedom, they will not grow to appreciate it. This seems to be a concept lost in today's world. It appears we choose to restrict rather than to moderate. Each child is different and should be treated accordingly. A blanket policy is neither fair nor effective. Kinda like this common core education the government is pushing but that is another discussion. As a child I was rewarded for appropriate behavior and disciplined for inappropriate behavior. To gain my freedom, I had to act right. I came to appreciate that freedom not because I gained it by virtue of age, but by virtue alone. Yes, I know that sounds idealistic but it is true.
We are implementing curfews on juveniles. The rhetoric is that it keeps them safe. It will prevent juvenile crime as well. Well, how about this ? We can only consume alcohol at home. That should prevent all cases of DWI shouldn't it. We will save lives. Same reasoning, yet most will say that is unreasonable. And why is that ? Is it because adults are responsible ? You decide. As for me I am unsettled a bit by this revelation. Very sad and very dangerous, in my opinion. Curfews, really ? I gain freedom by virtue of age ? Something is wrong about that, but I leave it to you to figure it out.
I understand perfectly the reasoning behind these curfews. If you keep the children home, they can't get into trouble. If you keep your children home, they cannot become victims of crime either. By restricting the movement of our youth we can control. The " you " should be you, not the government. I'm not buying that package. We have thousands of laws on the books yet there is still crime ! How can that be ? It is against the law to break the law. Funny thing about that too, recently we have begun to " decriminalize " certain things. The reasoning ? It will alleviate prison crowding and lower the crime rate. It will " free up " the police to concentrate on more serious crime. If we just prohibit anyone from being out at certain times would we then reduce adult criminal activity or adults becoming victims of crimes ? Then the Police need only observe. Anyone out and about past the curfew, lock'em up !
Some will say it is because parents are either unable or unwilling to raise their children. The government is helping by establishing these curfews. I say baloney ! All curfews do is identify a problem. They do not solve the problem. Just as a law identifies what is an unacceptable behavior but does not prevent it happening. Let us not become confused about that.
I have said it before and will continue to say it, you cannot legislate morality. You can provide penalties for actions deemed unacceptable, but that does not guarantee compliance. It is not the function of government to provide a moral basis, that is the function of religion. The function of the " Church. " That was recognized by the founding fathers and incorporated into our founding documents.
Curfews in America ? I find it troubling. Perhaps some of this comes from the fact that I have never experienced it personally. I never had a government mandated restriction on my freedom ! Mom and Dad took care of that. I can not help but see these curfews as an erosion of freedom. Perhaps I was raised in a sheltered environment. I will say this, if I was out and about at any time, and in any place I shouldn't be or doing anything I shouldn't be doing, I was policed ! I was policed by other adult members of the community. Didn't need curfews. I was watched.
I believe if you do not allow children to experience freedom, they will not grow to appreciate it. This seems to be a concept lost in today's world. It appears we choose to restrict rather than to moderate. Each child is different and should be treated accordingly. A blanket policy is neither fair nor effective. Kinda like this common core education the government is pushing but that is another discussion. As a child I was rewarded for appropriate behavior and disciplined for inappropriate behavior. To gain my freedom, I had to act right. I came to appreciate that freedom not because I gained it by virtue of age, but by virtue alone. Yes, I know that sounds idealistic but it is true.
We are implementing curfews on juveniles. The rhetoric is that it keeps them safe. It will prevent juvenile crime as well. Well, how about this ? We can only consume alcohol at home. That should prevent all cases of DWI shouldn't it. We will save lives. Same reasoning, yet most will say that is unreasonable. And why is that ? Is it because adults are responsible ? You decide. As for me I am unsettled a bit by this revelation. Very sad and very dangerous, in my opinion. Curfews, really ? I gain freedom by virtue of age ? Something is wrong about that, but I leave it to you to figure it out.
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