Should Montgomery Adopt a Youth Curfew? Some Say Yes
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Should Montgomery adopt a youth curfew in an attempt to reduce crime? It’s something being done in other cities and with the recent violence in the city involving young people, some believe a curfew could work here.
Montgomery Police have confirmed to Alabama News Network that two of the three shooting victims from this past weekend were juveniles. On Monday, frustrated anti-violence protestors called for a curfew.
“I remember back in the day when they asked, where is your child?” recalled Torian Hamilton.
Other Montgomery residents say a youth curfew is a pretty good idea.
“Well if it’s like on a school night, I think maybe 10 o’clock is good,” says resident Eddie Lewis. “Maybe like on the weekend, they like to hang out a little bit later, maybe about 12 o’clock.”
“The young kids are out walking the streets, selling drugs, breaking into houses,” says Angel Perkins.Â
Cities like Baltimore, Kansas City and Chicago have all adopted juvenile curfews. But Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange says he is not in favor of one. He says he believes law enforcement would spend too much time policing the curfew and not on actual crime. Instead, Strange says he supports going after business owners who illegally cater to youth.
“Where there are incidents, whether it’s overcrowding or under-aged drinking or gunshots fired in their parking lot, I think we ought to take aggressive action and close them,” he says.
Councilman David Burkette represents a district that has several bars and nightclubs within it and says while he supports a curfew, he could see how one could negatively affect young people not involved in crime.
“For instance, athletes and cheerleaders. Ultimately, they drive. A curfew would ultimately affect them more than it would anyone else.”
Still, others say a youth curfew in Montgomery is worth a shot.
“It starts at home but I think it would help some,” says Montgomery resident Anderson Ayers.
What do you think? Should Montgomery have a curfew? Leave a comment.
