Role Of Curfew In S. E. Hinton's The Outsiders

887 Words4 Pages

Curfews could, and have, helped in many ways around the United states. From lowering crime, to helping parents, and even disciplining kids. From the article Are Public Curfews Fair? written by ReadWorks, we now have a myriad of information, and evidence on curfews. S.E. Hinton wrote an inspiring novel, The Outsiders, that received many accolades; in this novel we see that the characters could have benefitted from curfews. Suitably, The Outsiders will be an example of how curfews can and have helped different people. While some people oppose curfews for minors, I vote that curfews would help; especially the characters in The Outsiders. Constantly, we see crime cases from gangs with minors, and the crime is the result of not having a place to be. From the opposing side of view, people say that curfews can not stop crime. “Curfews don't lower crime… Curfews don't stop teens from getting into trouble” says the article. This is true that people who want to commit a crime will not let a curfew stop them. In the novel, Johnny and …show more content…

Some people argue that enforcing a minor to go home at a certain time violates the first amendment. The first amendment states that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” according to the constitution center. This means that all people have the right to gather peacefully and have the freedom of speech; a curfew does not disobey these laws. With the rule that “right of the people to peaceably assemble” having a gang that commits crime in their free time, is not peacefully assembling. Therefore the first amendment does not violate a minor's rights if he/she is peacefully assembling. Curfews enforce good habits, but do not violate a minor's