User Panel
Posted: 5/1/2015 7:16:54 PM EDT
Are curfew's constitutional?
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I'm sure the Supremes would rule that they are. But I think they go against the very soul of the Constitution.
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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.
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Yes, juvenile curfews are constitutional and so are adult curfews at certain times of emergency, but are held to higher scrutiny.
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They are part of the police power authority of local and state government. Sort of like the authority to order rioters to disperse and get off the streets.
They are constitutional when imposed in response to civil unrest. The Constitution doesn't include a right to run riot through the night. |
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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. View Quote Seems like kind of a stretch. |
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Yup, I'm sure the founding fathers were all for curfews on citizens...
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LOL curfews.
As a freeman, I'll go where I want, when I want, how the fuck I want. |
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The Supreme Court has held curfews as constitutional at least once, albeit under very specific circumstances.
KIYOSHI HIRABAYASHI v. UNITED STATES, 320 U.S. 81 "For reasons presently to be stated, we conclude that it was within the constitutional power of Congress and the executive arm of the Government to prescribe this curfew order for the period under consideration" Edited for grammar. |
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Could the government establish a curfew from 8 am to 6 pm? I think they are unconstitutional.
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They were lawful and were imposed under British rule AND while the Framers were still in power. They have been part of the standard response - reactive and prophylactic - to civil disorder for centuries.
Now, can you impose a curfew on people who are standing around harming nothing and plotting nothing? That's a different issue. |
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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. Seems like kind of a stretch. Depends on the nature of the curfew, I suppose, but I could see it holding up. Probably not in this court, though. ETA: It would have to be a pretty egregious curfew as opposed to 'for the next two nights, everyone needs to stay inside after 11 so people stop setting shit on fire'. |
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No. How the hell can they legally tell grown people to be in their homes by a certain time? They aren't my fucking parents. |
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Within the laws of the city in which you live - yes.
Step outside the boundary of the city and you can stay up as late as you want.
You can consider city laws the consequences you sign up for when you move within city limits, think of it as the "city HOA".... If you don't want to live with the city laws then don't live within the city limits. |
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No. How the hell can they legally tell grown people to be in their homes by a certain time? They aren't my fucking parents. View Quote Have you seen the pictures coming from Fergadishu MO or Baltimore MD? Most of the "Adults" are over 21 years old. While there are plenty of underaged punks, the overwhelming percentage are old enough to vote. |
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even if they aren't the govt has sovereign immunity. Bitch about curfews all you want and nothing can be done about it
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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. Seems like kind of a stretch. Congress shall make no LAW...but a temporary curfew is not a law (and a Mayor is not Congress). If curfews were being used frivolously then I'd have a problem with that, but when they are only used to protect the people from a clear and present danger, then it is obviously a helpful measure. |
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curfew's what? I didn't think a curfew could possess anything??? </MisterLanguagePerson>
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They shall make no LAW...but a temporary curfew is not a law. If curfews were being used frivolously then I'd have a problem with that, but when they are only used to protect the people from a clear and present danger, then it is obviously a helpful measure. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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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. Seems like kind of a stretch. They shall make no LAW...but a temporary curfew is not a law. If curfews were being used frivolously then I'd have a problem with that, but when they are only used to protect the people from a clear and present danger, then it is obviously a helpful measure. That's where I'm at with it. So far. FLA1LA explained it pretty well. |
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To restrict a constitutionally protected right you must pass the strict scrutiny test. First, you must have a compelling government interest (not just a good idea). Second, the restriction must be as narrowly tailored as possible to achieve that goal. Finally, the restriction must be as minimally intrusive as possible.
So, if you can articulate a compelling government interest, you can impose a curfew. But it must be as narrow as possible lest area, last time, least amount of people affected as possible, and must be as minimally intrusive a possible, so the terms of the curfew sold be as light as possible. |
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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. View Quote Exactly. And burning cars/ buildings or otherwise destroying property or people..... well, it isn't exactly....peaceable. Ya know? |
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You also look at time, place, and manner. Constitutionally protected rights may be limited in certain times, places, and manners, but not at all times, in all places, out in all manners.
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Quoted: Have you seen the pictures coming from Fergadishu MO or Baltimore MD? Most of the "Adults" are over 21 years old. While there are plenty of underaged punks, the overwhelming percentage are old enough to vote. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Quoted: No. How the hell can they legally tell grown people to be in their homes by a certain time? They aren't my fucking parents. Have you seen the pictures coming from Fergadishu MO or Baltimore MD? Most of the "Adults" are over 21 years old. While there are plenty of underaged punks, the overwhelming percentage are old enough to vote. I've seen the pictures...and?? That's a different situation, one they aren't handling. If they would turn the police loose, the riots would be over pronto. I'm saying how can someone legally place an entire area under house arrest? They tried that in my area after Katrina and a cop saw me out in the street around midnight, told me to go in and I said no, I'm watching this area while my neighbors rest. He just said make sure you have plenty of ammo, wished me a good night and left. The officer paid lip service to the curfew because he knew like I did there were reasons to be out in the streets. Curfews are something for adults to place on their children, not for any government to put on grown citizens. |
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To restrict a constitutionally protected right you must pass the strict scrutiny test. First, you must have a compelling government interest (not just a good idea). Second, the restriction must be as narrowly tailored as possible to achieve that goal. Finally, the restriction must be as minimally intrusive as possible. So, if you can articulate a compelling government interest, you can impose a curfew. But it must be as narrow as possible lest area, last time, least amount of people affected as possible, and must be as minimally intrusive a possible, so the terms of the curfew sold be as light as possible. View Quote Bear in mind though that the right is one of peaceable assembly. |
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Is the federal government issuing the curfew order? No? Then the Constitution has nothing to say about it.
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Declared state of emergency, yes. Generally this means martial law. I hope we never come to that but I suspect it's right around the corner.
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He's not asking if the founding fathers would have supported them. He's asking if they are Constitutional. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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Yup, I'm sure the founding fathers were all for curfews on citizens... NOT He's not asking if the founding fathers would have supported them. He's asking if they are Constitutional. Since we seem to be talking about the Federal constitution, that is the question. How are they constitutional? In other words, which part authorizes them? No such part? Then they are unconstitutional by default. |
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Since we seem to be talking about the Federal constitution, that is the question. How are they constitutional? In other words, which part authorizes them? No such part? Then they are unconstitutional by default. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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Yup, I'm sure the founding fathers were all for curfews on citizens... NOT He's not asking if the founding fathers would have supported them. He's asking if they are Constitutional. Since we seem to be talking about the Federal constitution, that is the question. How are they constitutional? In other words, which part authorizes them? No such part? Then they are unconstitutional by default. STATE powers. See #9 and #10. |
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Yup, I'm sure the founding fathers were all for curfews on citizens... NOT He's not asking if the founding fathers would have supported them. He's asking if they are Constitutional. Since we seem to be talking about the Federal constitution, that is the question. How are they constitutional? In other words, which part authorizes them? No such part? Then they are unconstitutional by default. STATE powers. See #9 and #10. The 9th and 10th amendments don't grant the States any powers. They reserve the States whatever powers the people of those particular States have granted them. Through their respective constitutions. |
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