Chicago's Newest Solution to Gang Violence: Curfews

 As if Chicago wasn't already the poster child for big government, it continues to live up to that reputation with probably the most anti-liberty law a city can impose upon its people: curfews.

Faced with an escalating crime rate in the city of Chicago, and a police force that has been shrinking due to budget constraints, Mayor Rahm Emanuel has decided the best course of action would be to impose city-wide curfews on children to keep them out of danger. According to a local news station, Mr. Emanuel, along with Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy, will also fine parents anywhere from $500 to $1,500 if they knowingly let their children stay out past the imposed curfew. The curfew rules will begin September 18th, where no child under the age 12 will be allowed on the streets unattended past 8:30 pm on weekdays and 9 pm on weekends. This is in addition to the existing laws that mandate kids between the ages of 12 and 16 can only stay out until 11 pm on weekends and 10:30 pm on weekdays.

The idea behind these curfews, which were started under the previous mayor Richard Daley, who is now President Obama's Chief of Staff, is meant to prevent children from being victims of gang violence.