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youth curfew in Europe

 
 
Mercury
13:04 / 11.08.01
I just read that curfew laws have been passed in a number of cities in France, aimed at under-13s. The reason? Spectacular increase in teenage and gang violence this past year. Officially, the curfew is supposed "to protect these youths by placing them away from eventual contact with dealers, paedophiles, etc."

Some similar measures are being drawn in Britain, I think. The French seem genuinely terrified. They say there are absolutely "no go" zones in Strasbourg and people won't take any form of public transportaion after sundown.

Now, this is a typical hot subject. And one of those that might bring lots of different opinions. Cause the idea seems totally fascistic, and thoughts wander from Orwell to V for Vendetta and beyond. It's real, it's happening, they're keeping us in check. But mindless violence is a fact. It's really happening too, and these gangs don't seem to be "revolutionaries" in the sense that they're sending a message. The violence IS the message.

And for a normal, regular Joe, what's the difference? He stays at home anyway. There isn't much difference between being scared shitless of a fascist police force and being scared shitless of a 15 member crazed gang.

- Mercury
 
 
rizla mission
11:51 / 12.08.01
Are under-13s really causing all the bother though?

Seems a bit young to be out raping and pillaging, but then I'm probably naive..
 
 
Blank Faced Avatar
06:51 / 13.08.01
'Fraid so, in fact there's plenty of places in south Wales where you can get surrounded by subteens, and if there's 10 of them with bats, and they aren't the least bit afraid of you, you forget they should be in short trousers & start taking the threat very seriously. Kid make good soldiers, they're better at dehumanising victims than most adults, & less in control of their own most violent urges.

However, the problem of preteen gangs is very limited, ( except in countries with lenient gun laws ), and in no way justifies these widespread curfews - It's just to accustom future generations to increased government control of their free time. So that when it starts coming over the PA's, " All manual labourers must be back in the subterranean levels before 0530 hrs or be shot ", we'll be less likely to object.
 
 
Our Lady of The Two Towers
08:57 / 13.08.01
The idea in this country is to punish the parents. If things have got to the state where a kid is openly defying authority and going out causing criminal damage, it's gone beyond the point where the parent can do anything to stop it, surely?
 
  
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