“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”
— The Continental Congress, July 4, 1776
“The task of statesmanship has always been the re-definition of these rights in terms of a changing and growing social order.”
— Franklin D. Roosevelt (Commonwealth Club Address, 1932)
“Roosevelt was wrong! The principles laid down in the Declaration of Independence are the principles of individual liberty. Our unalienable rights, given to us by God are given to us as individuals. Our rights do not come from society or the government, and they cannot be redefined by politicians. The nature of these rights carries with it the implication of individual responsibility, without which we surrender them.”
— Perri Nelson, November 6, 2008
Juvenile curfew laws are unconstitutional?
Published Wed, Apr 18 2007 9:03 AM
Technorati Tags: ACLU
Can someone explain to me where in the constitution local governments are prohibited from establishing curfew laws? From the Oregonian via OregonLive.com:
The American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon plans to file a federal lawsuit against the city of Lake Oswego on Wednesday, challenging its curfew law.
The civil rights organization is filing suit on behalf of four Lake Oswego teenagers who attempted to change the law on their own, without success.
It must be in amendment 28 of the Constitution where it says "No local government may enact a law restricting minors from wandering the streets at night, whether for purposes of public safety or to prevent other crimes or to protect said minors from potential violence."
Oh wait, that's right, there IS no 28th amendment yet.
The students decided to challenge the curfew law as part of a political action seminar at Lake Oswego High School. In December, they asked the City Council to abolish the ordinance, calling it unconstitutional.
The ordinance, based on a statewide curfew law, forbids children younger than 14 to be on the streets between 9:15 p.m. and 6 a.m. Those 14 to 18 can be out for another hour Sunday through Thursday and until midnight on Friday and Saturday and during the summer. It allows an exemption for youths who are attending night school, have late-night jobs or are "engaged in any entertainment."
The ACLU... an organization hell-bent on preventing the application of common sense in government. The ACLU... working to undermine the American way of life in every way possible.
Hat tip to OrbusMax.
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