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The Child Curfew Debate

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The Child Curfew Debate
A long time ago the area now known as our home, the United States of America, got discovered. This unearthing of new ground eventually brought about hope for many individuals seeking a new and diverse life. By the mid to late 1800s America attracted many Europeans. These immigrants strived for an opportunity to make a living with great possibilities, and without negative government interference. Anyone would consider it an understatement to claim that America, during this time, contained great hope for the future of its inhabitance. After all, America’s founding purpose comes from one key element in general, freedom.
The very first Americans came here in hopes to evade their current government and its laws discriminating religion. In general, America allowed for a place where government meant “the people” and it focused on the people. Choice, opportunity, and freewill backboned America. Has America remained the grounds for freedom? Some may believe so, but are they really looking into the element of what freedom portrays?
Freedom in America has become skewed and inappropriately redefined by our government. The importance of government of any great country remains vital, but the purpose of it should continue to serve the people, not deprive them of their rights. Child curfew laws are one distinct way that our freedom has diminished. Adolescents and teens need help and supervision, but not from the government. Not all teens are alike and not all teens need the same rules. We all struggle in diverse ways and our young Americans need assistant in deciding what they need from their parents or guardians, not necessarily the government. There are many opposing views on the basis of child curfew laws.
The main purpose of the curfew ordinance strives to reduce adolescent crime. This idea generates positive ideas in thought and theory; but the problem continues to remain. Child curfews do not seem to lower this crime rate. Research in the United States



Cited: Costello, Stephanie. "Should Teens Be Given a Curfew?" Helium. 22 Sept. 2006. 28 Feb. 2008 <http://www.helium.com/tm/708050/curfew-place-since-child>. "Court Decisions - Juvenile Curfews." MRSC. July 2003. 28 Feb. 2008 <http://www.mrsc.org/mc/courts/appellate/086wnapp/086wnapp0501.htm>. Endersby, Alastair. "Child Curfews." International Debate Education Association. 24 Apr. 2001. 28 Feb. 2008 <http://www.idebate.org/debatabase/topic_details.php?topicID=114>. "Local Child Curfews Guidance Document Working Draft." Crime Reduction. 15 Oct. 2003. 1 Apr. 2008 <http://www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk/youth/youth18.htm>. "Teen Wins Curfew Court Case." Raising Kids. 21 July 2005. 28 Feb. 2008 <http://www.raisingkids.co.uk/todaysnews/news_210705_01.asp>. "Youth Justice System." 1 Apr. 2008 <http://www.yjb.gov.uk/en- gb /yjs/SentencesOrdersandAgreements/LocalChildCurfew/>.

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