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Good to see the young hoodlums will probably charged as adults.
Solicitor moving to try juveniles as adults in Five Points beating - Local / Metro - TheState.com (http://www.thestate.com/2011/06/30/1879853/solicitor-moving-to-try-juveniles.html - broken link)
Good to see the young hoodlums will probably charged as adults.
Solicitor moving to try juveniles as adults in Five Points beating - Local / Metro - TheState.com (http://www.thestate.com/2011/06/30/1879853/solicitor-moving-to-try-juveniles.html - broken link)
I agree. Anyone here honestly think this was the first time these kids did something like this?? I highly doubt it was pure impulse, like "hey we can shoot some hoops, or go downtown and whoop some arse...."
I'd bet that for at least most this has happened before, either not reported by their victims or just not tied to them yet.
This would be a good case for "an eye for an eye" justice.... and let that be an example to others. Just glad to see the victim at least physically is doing better
I agree. Anyone here honestly think this was the first time these kids did something like this?? I highly doubt it was pure impulse, like "hey we can shoot some hoops, or go downtown and whoop some arse...."
I'd bet that for at least most this has happened before, either not reported by their victims or just not tied to them yet.
I think one of the earlier stories in The State reported that a few of these kids did have prior arrests.
There are several reasons that a curfew should be enforced in nighttime entertainment districts in my opinion.
People who are under 18 generally do not have money to spend and no place to spend it when all the bars will not allow anyone under 21 inside.
This leaves large groups of kids on the outside looking in with nothing else to do but loiter around and get into trouble. You throw young adults who are leaving bars drunk into the mix and it is a recipe for disaster.
If anyone is interested, here's an interesting article speaking on how there is little proof that an implemented curfew makes any difference in youth crimes and how it may not even be constitutional.
Juvenile Curfews: The Rights of Minors vs. the Rhetoric of Public Safety | Section of Individual Rights and Responsibilities (http://www.americanbar.org/publications/human_rights_magazine_home/irr_hr_hr_fall99humanrights_budd.html - broken link)
It speaks to another location entirely, but I feel that it makes good points that would apply to Columbia.
I disagree. Why does a 17 year old citizen have less of a right to be on public streets than an adult?
I don't see how the government can legally discriminate against an entire group of people. Which, it is discrimination. This law was put in place to lower crime on the assumption that 17 year olds and under are going to commit crime. Well, anyone can commit crime. It is an ageless activity.
That being said, I do wholly agree that parents shouldn't allow their children to wander the streets at such late hours, but I don't think the government has any right to enforce a law banning a group of people from a public place. If a private entity wants to do it, fine, then that's their right.
Children (a word I use intentionally) under the age of 18 are regularly limited in their rights and privileges. A curfew will not curb any and every type of crime, but it will give law enforcement a legal case for telling young miscreants to move along. I'll lose no sleep over that.
Children (a word I use intentionally) under the age of 18 are regularly limited in their rights and privileges. A curfew will not curb any and every type of crime, but it will give law enforcement a legal case for telling young miscreants to move along. I'll lose no sleep over that.
I agree, kids under the age of 18 have no business in an entertainment district like Five Points in the late hours. We see a little of this in Charlotte when large events are held downtown, groups of kids under 18 come into town and it usually does not end well. I have no problem with a curfew.
The more legal weapons we have against thugs the better. That means being creative. Bust adults with them for contributing.
Ideally, their neighborhoods would be gentrified and they would be thinned out that way. Gentrification is the only way to push bad folks out of an area. Checkpoints for license and registration can choke off enemy mobility, bust DUIs, and find those with outstanding warrants. Tow ALL vehicles whose paperworks isn't straight. That way many of the criminals will be turned into pedestrians or forced to drive with others. Smart cops know a full car is up to no good and can find reasons to pull it over. Asset forfeiture is another tool. Lose enough cars and many folks won't drive into contested areas.
ALL criminal records with full identifying info should be posted openly online. Concealing juvenile identities is wrong. They only reason to hide them is so "kids" can commit more crimes as legal adults, and that's no reason. We have the resources to name and shame all criminals. We should use them without mercy. We are at war, and thugs kill far more people each year than we lost in Iraq and Afghanistan. Thugs want war and they should have it. Destroy them.
As far as personal security, avoid people who are poor, avoid people who don't look like you (technically not nice, but a total win in a practical sense), get a concealed weapon permit, a practical weapon and holster for it, and practice at the range.
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