Louisville mall creates curfews for teens
Over the holidays, the Louisville malls decided to restrict teenagers’ privileges after many disturbances were reported. There was between 1,000 and 2,000 young kids who were spending their Saturday night running in and out of the mall, the police received phone calls and disputed to the scene
Teenagers posted on social media about being at the mall, and more and more came. They were said to be fighting all over the mall, which didn’t allow the police to arrest anyone as they were breaking up the fights.
“I don’t believe this was organized,” St. Matthews police spokesman, Dennis McDonald, said “I believe this was random. I believe this was a by-product of juveniles congregating and there being some disturbances growing out of that.”
After this incident, the police and St. Matthews Mall decided to take charge with a temporary plan to try and stop the mall chaos. Kids under the age of 18 must be with an adult who is 21 or older after 4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. This new rule will affect many kids’ weekends.
“I am kind of on the fence about it; I do believe there are several kids who are getting something to eat and window shopping. I don’t want to see that taken away. But if parents aren’t going to discipline, and children aren’t going to have respect for adults, authority and rules, then this is an action that may very well be necessary.” The Courier Journal quoted a parent, TaKeisha Brent
These regulations are being put in place for the safety St. Matthews’s shoppers, though it can be considered an inconvenience to some. Going to the mall is a privilege and if it is taken advantage of then the privilege will be revoked.
“I go to the mall by myself all the time,” Senior Gabi Dubilier said. “If my parents had to go with me, I would never be able to go and shop.”
Teenagers have the privilege of not having an adult with them at all times, they are given guidelines to being by themselves and how to behave. So far, at Fayette Mall there hasn’t been an issue like the one at St. Matthews Mall. Fayette Mall, should be aware of the actions taken place but should also take into consideration how their malls safety is.
“I don’t feel like I am in danger at the mall,” Dubilier said. “but if I did I would either stop going to the mall alone or want the mall security to be more effective.”
If kids act like juveniles at the mall and it bothers others to a point where they are scared for their safety then new regulations should be implemented, but if not the privilege should stay available.
