The Fayette Citizen-Opinion Page
Wednesday, March 24, 1999
Even teens have constitutional rights

Letters from Our Readers

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In its laudable zeal to ascertain no gangs gain a foothold in Fayette County, the Fayette County Sheriff's Department needs to remember that we all have certain rights guaranteed us by the United States Constitution...even teenagers.

Freedom of speech and freedom of association and assembly are among the most sacred of our civil rights and must not be abridged no matter the good of the intention. As a parent, I am as concerned as anyone about youth gangs and their impact upon our society, yet I will not trade the futures of a thousand young citizens for a single intrusion upon these precious rights.

I might also remind Major [Bruce] Jordan that one man's gang is another's social club. The pep squad, the football team, the " Wolf Pac," the JCs are all gangs in that like-minded people assembled and work together to foster common goals.

Was the Nazi Party a gang or a political organization? The difference between these "gangs" and those in the hood are the activities of the members. We have a plethora of laws on the books to curb criminal activity. We don't need more or different laws because some criminals choose to associate with one another.

Additionally, prohibiting the display of red or blue colors under the belief that these are gang colors is equally specious. Though the choice of color isn't specifically guaranteed by the Constitution, I believe it simply never occurred to the framers that such a prohibition was ever possible.

There are times, many times, when the end doesn't justify the means.

William J. McNew
Fayetteville


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