Homeschool ACTION NOW! ALERT!

[MATCH]

August 18, 2008

Missouri--Action Still Needed to Stop Grain Valley Daytime Curfew

Dear HSLDA Members and Friends,
 
Homeschoolers in Grain Valley have taken the first step toward 
defeating the proposed daytime curfew ordinance under consideration by 
the Grain Valley Board of Aldermen. Thanks to the families who 
attended the meeting last week and spoke up, the Board of Aldermen 
decided to table the proposed ordinance, instead of voting to pass it, 
as many anticipated would happen. However, this measure is still under 
consideration, and your action is still urgently needed to make sure 
it is defeated. 

The Board of Alderman meets tonight at 6 p.m. for a workshop, and the 
daytime curfew ordinance is on the agenda. This will be a public 
meeting, but the discussion will be limited to the Board. If at all 
possible, you should attend this meeting in order to communicate your 
objection to the proposal through your physical presence. The Board 
needs to be reminded that the families of Grain Valley will not 
tolerate such a broad attack on their fundamental rights. 


ACTION REQUESTED

If you live in Grain Valley, please stand up for freedom by attending 
the meeting tonight, August 18, and show by your presence that you 
oppose the ordinance.

The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. in the Grain Valley City Hall at 
711 Main St. Please contact other families and ask them to come to the 
meeting, as well!

BACKGROUND:

1.  Daytime curfews do not deter juvenile crime.

A recent California study compared the juvenile crime rates of 
counties that enforced curfew ordinances and counties that did not. 
The crime rates were the same. The curfews had no effect on juvenile 
crime.

2.  Daytime curfews allow searches without probable cause.

The Fourth Amendment forbids any investigation of a citizen without a 
"probable cause." The proposed ordinance allows policemen to stop and 
interrogate a person merely because he looks young enough to be 
violating the curfew.  It is an invitation to harass homeschool 
families.

3. Daytime curfews assume a person is guilty until proven innocent.

In several incidents where homeschool students were stopped by police, 
they had done nothing to arouse suspicion. There was no evidence they 
had committed a crime or intended to. Nonetheless, the police 
interrogated them and treated them like criminals until they had 
proved their innocence. 

4.  The ordinance allows some exceptions.  Unfortunately, the only way 
for a policeman to determine if an exception applies is to stop and 
interrogate the frightened young person.  By then the damage has 
already been done.  The child may be afraid to go outdoors again.  The 
right to homeschool includes the right to be free from 
fear--especially for young people, who are most vulnerable to feelings 
of fear.

Thank you for standing with us for freedom.

Sincerely,

Scott A. Woodruff
HSLDA Staff Attorney


--
Orilla Crider
MATCH Director
2203 Rhonda Dr
West Plains, MO 65775
Email <mailto:match at match-inc.org>
www.match-inc.org <http://www.match-inc.org>

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