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Lord Borg
Fleet Admiral
Joined: 27 May 2003
Posts: 11214
Location: Vulcan Capital City, Vulcan
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 Thu Aug 14, 2008 12:35 pm ACLU cries foul as city nets arrests with 24-hour curfew |
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| Quote: | ACLU cries foul as city nets arrests with 24-hour curfew
Story Highlights
- Police chief says the curfew has netted 32 arrests since last week
- City so crime-ridden, some "sleep on the floor because of stray bullets," chief says
- ACLU says police stops violate constitution, arrests will likely be overturned
- Councilman: At 3 a.m., "nobody has any business being on the street, except the law"
HELENA-WEST HELENA, Arkansas (AP) -- Officers armed with military rifles, some with laser sights, have been stopping and questioning passers-by in a neighborhood plagued by violence that's been under a 24-hour curfew for a week.
On Tuesday, the Helena-West Helena City Council voted 9-0 to allow police to expand that program into any area of the city, despite a warning from a lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas that the police stops were unconstitutional. |
Source
I have pretty mixed feelings over this, some may say its a rather extreme response, perhaps they are right. I do read in the article, however, that the area seems to be in pretty bad shape, not just from the drugs and violence but the homes are either abandoned or occupied and in disrepair. However, that doesn't excuse some of the reaction, or views that the council has (For instance, I know people that'd be out at that time of night, simply learning a living). I would like to think there could be other answers to this then a 24 curfew like it is now, more police patrols in that area period instead of making them all but an army with heavy weapons, perhaps programs to help clean up the area.
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When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears
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Valathous
The Canadian, eh
Joined: 31 Aug 2002
Posts: 19074
Location: Centre Bell
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| Fri Aug 15, 2008 1:57 am |
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I realize that they're saying there's a lot of violence and all, but honestly...
I'd have been arrested about 10 times since I've been back from holidays, walking 25 mins to get home from various friends houses from times anywhere between 3am-8am.
People have every right to be on the streets at whatever time they want as long as they're not engaging in activities such as distributing coke, herion, meth, etc, or being violent in any way. I'm not a fan of this at all and am very glad to not be living in a town that believes in this (even if the people don't). The lawyer will undoubtedly win his case if he pursues it.
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Lord Borg
Fleet Admiral
Joined: 27 May 2003
Posts: 11214
Location: Vulcan Capital City, Vulcan
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| Fri Aug 15, 2008 4:05 am |
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I'm not really a terrible fan of the councils view either, but after talking with Dad today about this, I can understand even more, the reasoning behind this extreme action. While I'd like to think something could have been done before now, and that some of these actions may be a bit much, a line has to be drawn some where. At this point, things are bad enough so that (By the articles admission itself) children are sleeping on the floor, because of fears a stray bullet may kill them as they sleep. That is not right. Still, though, you do make some valid points. What worries me, is this should have ended Tuesday night, and the council voted to let the police expand this operation. Certainly, I do not agree with the black and white view the council seems to have on those who should, and should not be out at 3AM.
Also, I am not to clear if you really would have been arrested or not, being out isn't the crime, it's being out and them realizing you don't really have a good answer, or you act nervous, then they pay a little extra attention to you. Still though, even if I wasn't committing a crime, I suppose you are right still, as at 3AM, a cop armed with a military rifle, or a shotgun pulling me over, would make me a tad nervous.
-------signature-------
When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears
When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears
And I held your hand through all of these years
But you still have
All of me
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