A violation of the Constitution? Or the right thing to do? What are your thoughts on the 24 hour curfew->?

Question

That's taking place in the town of Helena-West-Helena 'Arkansas? I think that whatever it takes to stop crime should be done in this situation. Once again the ACLU seem more interested in protecting the rights of those who are causing harm than those who are victimized by this situation. For those who don't know what I'm talking about here's the story.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080813/ap_on_re_us/arkansas_town_curfew

Answer 1

So long as they do not prohibit movement, do not arrest people for merely being on the streets and question all equally. No profiling! Then I see no problem with it. Unlike the police chief though, I am not so sure that judges would see it the same way as it is essentially a violation of civil rights.  

Answer 2

What is happening in the town of Helena-West-Helena Arkansas is  a result to the extensive poverty in that town. Poverty results when people do not have the means to adequately meet their needs from day to day. Employers tend to pay their workers as little as possible, not what their work is worth, or anything close to it. The whole objectiv of the employer is to make as much money as possible.Then they wonder why all these social problems arises in area such as those in this Arkanas town. You stimulate the environment for the production of social problems then you wonder why they happen. (Must be something wrong with those people!!!) The employers seep out the lifeblood of the society then they wonder why social problems arise. WHAT TO DO??? Call in the police of couise to thake these people in hand and show them who is in charge!!!!! The plice are potenting everybody from the problems that the loczal economics created. This is very complicated stuff, quite beyond the comprehension of traditional conservatives. I seem obvious to people who think this way that we sould give up our liberties to to be save from problems created by economic factors. This whole appropach if it succeed in this small town, this theater of the absurd, may be playing soon in a town or community near you!!!! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!!!!!!

Answer 3

The mayor did what he thought had to be done to protect his citizens. He should be commended for that. HOWEVER, this is something that should only be done if the city has been declared a militant state by the governor.

As for the ACLU, I agree with the person above. They are just a bunch of whiney people who stick their nose in where it doesn't belong.

Answer 4

The ACLU once again shows that it will never serve the interests of law abiding citizens.

Answer 5

i think the town should be able to exercise any right to protect the citizens of this city, even if that means a 24-hour curfew...and the aclu is just another extremist union who tries to protect everyone while really protecting no one

Answer 6

Personly I hate the ACLU their jsut stupid winnie liberals but the police are out of line.....

Answer 7

The mayor did what needed to be done.  In my experience, when they show your whiners complaining on the tv, those are 99 percent probably the very scum balls that the law is made to go after.

Answer 8

I disagree with it. They are making the same people that they are supposedly trying to protect prisoners in their own home. If I lived there I would go out anyway b/c no one is going to put me under what amounts to house arrest when I have done nothing wrong.

I very rarely agree with the ACLU...in fact this may be a first....but what they are doing is wrong as far the law abiding citizens goes.  

Answer 9

Well I side with both kind of here. Since the residents support it and it really isn't being enforced. The only thing wrong with it as far as I can tell is harassment. That is just a slap on the wrist (hardly a matter for the ACLU). Because they even said people are still allowed to be out in the article. Now if they were not allowing anyone out that would be a huge violation of civil rights and the Constitution.

In this case like I said it really isn't a curfew it is just if you are out the police will show interest, which at most would be harassment.

Answer 10

As far as I can tell, it seems acceptable though of course unfortunate that it is needed.

Shouldn't the ACLU be required to have the approval of those they are "defending"?  From what I read, the residents of the impacted areas are supportive of the curfew measures.

Answer 11

I believe you misread the article.  People have to work, shop and go on about life.  No political leader can uphold a 24 hr a day curfew except in time of wide spread violence or destruction.

Answer 12

The mayor didn't do this on his own,the city council voted to enforce this curfew to take control of the crimes that are taking place in their community and to try and bring it under control. If it violates the criminals constitutional rights so it be. If more communities would take this control they would most in likely be a lot safer, but you would always have someone to cry about it. If their doing no wrong they have nothing to worry about. I hope they keep up the good work and would like to see how a judge would rule against something that the local council voted in to protect their community.