Community Debates Proposed County Youth Curfew Legislation

In anticipation of next week's Montgomery County Council public meeting on a proposed curfew for the county's teenagers, .

County Executive Isiah Leggett proposed the curfew, — except when accompanied by parents, participating in school or religious functions or acting under the direction of a parent.

In Wednesday's meeting, a staffer from the executive's office stressed that the bill is meant to be anti-gang violence, not anti-youth.

Several students from around the county showed up to voice their concerns that the bill is too broad.

Abigail Burman, a former Richard Montgomery High School student and creator of the “Stand Up to the MoCo Youth Curfew” Facebook campaign, stressed that she thinks the police could achieve the same results of curbing youth violence by just using existing laws against loitering and disorderly conduct.

The Facebook page now has more than 5,000 supporters.

Burman was also featured on the Kojo Nnamdi Show on WAMU on Wednesday, talking about the same issue with Councilman Marc Elrich (D-At Large), the founder of Safe Silver Spring and other officials.

Next steps: The Montgomery County Council will meet on July 26 for a public hearing of the proposed bill at the Council Office Building in Rockville. Residents are encouraged to submit suggestions and other sentiments by emailing their county council member or testifying at the hearing. The council won’t make a decision on the proposed curfew legislation until the fall.

Your thoughts: What do you think of the proposed curfew? Tell us in the comments section below.