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curfew for teens < 16 ?
I think this is a ridiculous idea...apparently some city coucillors, such as Frances Nunziata and Giorgio Mammoliti, among others, disagree. IMHO, this is a reactionary, illogical response to the 12 yr. old girl being stabbed this week.
This isn't about teens being out after dark and being lured into a life of "drugs, prostitution..." etc., but rather that irresponsible parents aren't involved in their kids' lives. But ok, keep kids at home...that will solve everything, lol 
In addition to the article below, there was a story on either CBC Newsworld or CP24 this morning where Nunziata proposed a 10:30pm curfew...um...so no jobs that keep you out past then? no going to an evening movie with friends? no attending a sporting event with friends? We should piss away thin police resources rounding up responsible teens after 10:30pm simply because of a few rotten apples? This is beyond stupid and just punishes the vast majority of teens who ARE responsible.
shit, some teens speed...maybe no teens should be allowed to drive at all and then we won't have any teens speeding? flawed logic.
source: http://www.eye.net/eye/issue/issue_.../city/city.html
| quote: | CITY HALL -- "I had a curfew until the day I was married," says Councillor Frances Nunziata. "I still have a curfew."
This glimpse into the personal life of one of Toronto's most prominent politicians comes as she explains why it's hard for her to understand all the fuss over possibly implementing a curfew bylaw for teens in Toronto.
It's late in the afternoon at City Hall on Oct. 26 and debate has moved from tax increases, homelessness and bottled water to the safety of our city's streets and an apparent decline in responsible parenting. It's time for the city to step in, says Giorgio Mammoliti. He has proposed the city conduct a study into the value of implementing a curfew for teens 16 and younger. Though the hours he thinks the curfew should be in force are unclear, he speaks with increasing urgency of the problems he believes a curfew could help solve: increases in gun-related crime, teens falling into lives of drug use and prostitution and the overall safety of our streets.
Janet Davis argues that a curfew is unenforceable, ineffective and a waste of police resources. "Curfews discriminate against kids who are good [because of] the behaviour of a few," Davis says to the applause and cheers of a group of five teenage girls sitting in the gallery.
Other councillors also question the logic of the idea. "How would police identify someone under 16?" Howard Moscoe asks, given that individuals have no obligation to identify themselves to police, unless they are being charged with a crime.
Pam McConnell raises another important fact that has been overlooked. "There is already a curfew in place. We already have legislation covering the matter," she says referring to a provincial law in the Child and Family Services Act.
One would think the debate would end there, but a frustrated Mammoliti launches into a rebuttal. "The city is being perceived as sitting on its hands when it comes to dealing with crime. If you squash this concept, it sends the message that you really don't care."
"There is a lack of parenting going on in the city of Toronto," Mammoliti proclaims. Mike Del Grande implies that part of the problem is that kids have the upper hand -- they can threaten to call the authorities if their parents try to discipline them. "The [curfew] law would work in the parent's favour," Del Grande says -- if children refuse to stay at home, parents could threaten to call the police.
Alas, parents will go without the child-rearing assistance of council. After over two hours of debate, Mammoliti's proposal to study the merits of imposing a curfew was defeated 30-10. DALE DUNCAN |
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