1.
Creating an independent society
- Ladies and gentlemen, when a curfew is implemented, children are expected to
be home after a certain time and to follow the curfew blindly without question
to avoid punishment. This restricts children from learning about the real,
outside world where it is not just all about fun and games especially at night.
Just imagine a child that has been protected their whole life. In a few years,
that very same child will be going to college. How do you expect this child to be
independent and make tough, mature decisions when their entire childhood has
been decided for them? How do you expect them to be able to manage when the
lines have been drawn since a young age? They have been constrained. They have
been confined. They have been trapped for almost all their life. So, when the
curtains are finally drawn, when they become adults, they become culture shock,
traumatized even. L&G, why are we doing this to our young ones?
- MOTF, recent research done by Harvard University states that almost 53% of
college students are overly protected by their parents. As a result, they suffer
from anxiety issues, are socially awkward and unable to mix around with people.
L&G, think about it, if 53% of the children are being protected by parents yet
suffer so many social inadequacies, then what would happen when they are
protected by both parents and the unnecessary curfew law? Are we looking
forward to increase the 53% to 100%?
- Besides that, in April 2011, there was an article in the Daily Mail, Ohio about a
teenage girl who was having trouble crossing the road. She was frozen, unable to
cross the busy road simply because she was sheltered all her life and never
exposed to such a situation. Now, most of you may find it funny because who
doesn’t know how to cross the road? However, try to put yourself in her shoes,
what would you do? Similarly, if we were to introduce curfews, it would be like
putting children in an imaginary jail where when they are finally let out, and
allowed to be out at night, they will be like a deer caught in the headlights,
unsure, scared and reluctant.
2. Danger is present all the time.
- MOTF, the whole purpose of placing a curfew is for protection, to keep teens
from engaging in dangerous, unsafe and possible criminal activities. Society has
placed a belief that it is unsafe at night when in reality danger is lingering at
every single waking moment, danger is present all the time, danger is
everywhere. For example, you were told by your own parents to walk down the
street to the nearest 7 Eleven to do something as simple as buying bread. Can
you imagine the possibilities of dangers awaiting you. 1, a mad man chasing after
you, god knows what happens after that. 2, a serial killer lingering in the corner
waiting to kidnap you. 3, a snatch thief speeding by as he grabs your purse and
leaves you bleeding on the ground as you scream for help and as if that wasn’t
enough, get rolled over by a reckless lorry driver. The probability of facing
danger can happen at any time of the day up until the set time of curfew, they’d
always find a way. Therefore, L&G, curfew is not the solution to these scenarios.
It Is generally known that curfews are imposed to stop crime in the context of
this debate to stop teenagers from juvenile delinquency, as it is assumed that
crime only happens at night.
- MOTF, research in the USA conducted by sociologists in the UPENN suggests
that there is no significant link between the setting up of curfews and reduction
of juvenile crimes. In other words, curfews did not contribute to reducing
juvenile crimes.
- Besides that, Malaysia being a developing country with our citizens working
longer than the usual 9-5, parents and guardians are not at home to ensure their
kids are at home as well. Even if the children are at home they are most likely to
be home alone without supervision. There is always the possibility that the
parents could come home to ashes, smoke and a burning house. Who’s to say that
there won’t be innocent sibling arguments that could result in a broken nose, a
bloody face or even a black eye? This further emphasises that their safety is
still at stake in the confines of four walls. And not to mention, danger could still
come knocking at their door!
3. Fundamental rights of children
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National Criminal Justice Reference Service. That review found that “empirical studies of the
impact of curfew laws failed to support the argument that curfews reduce crime and criminal
victimization.”
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