Virtual House Arrest Ordered for Minors in East St. Louis

Story here. So how many girls out after 10:00 or truant during school days or hanging out on street corners do you suppose will get stopped and questioned or arrested by the police? The violence they are dealing with is indeed tragic. But does 4 recent killings warrant threatening calling in the National Guard? For every one murderous young man there are many thousands who are not; is taking away their right to go on about their business in keeping with the right to be presumed innocent? Violence in cities like Detroit and Camden is a serious problem, but are their mayors taking such drastic measures? In essence I see this as basically outlawing the public appearance of under-aged males for the better part of most days. Excerpt:

'EAST ST. LOUIS (KMOX) – Angered by the recent murders of four young people, the mayor announced today that police are going to impose drastic new measurers to keep teens off the streets.

“There is something going on in the community at this point that we’ve got to safeguard them and keep them off the streets,” Mayor Alvin Parks said. “There are people shooting at each other for no reason whatsoever.”

Among the new rules:

**Minors are to be off the streets at ten o’clock on both weeknights and weekend nights.

**Minors on the street during school hours will be arrested on sight.

**Police will also perform I.D. checks on street corners and conduct gun searches, and Parks says he won’t hesitate to call in the National Guard if the spike in violence continues.'