After tragedies such as the shooting of 6-year-old Kingston Campbell, the city of Lynchburg opted to impose a citywide curfew starting in May 2023.
The primary reason behind it was to protect the general public by reducing the number of crimes committed by kids under the age of 18.
“A lot of crime started with individuals that were under 18,” Shawn Hunter, president of Lynchburg Peacemakers, said. “These crimes and these shootings were happening late at night after eleven o’clock, sometimes one or two in the morning.”
So, from that day forward, from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., Lynchburg teenagers were required to stay inside according to the city ordinance. It has had its benefits. Property crimes and car break-ins—among other violent crimes—have gone down.
While it has already been extended twice, Lynchburg city officials will all be sitting down at tonight’s City Council meeting to determine the curfew’s fate.
If you ask people like Hunter—whose group advocates for anti-violence and helps kids divert from violent lifestyles—the curfew should stick around for a little longer.
“I think they just need to keep it like that and we need to set a norm and inspire the parents to take further action of their kids if they are out in the street like that,” Hunter said.
Even with all of the government regulations, sometimes it takes a village to raise a child.
“Everybody has a responsibility, particularly the parents. You have a responsibility to ensure that your kids are not out at a time set by the local government, but you should responsibly as a parent set a time for your child to be in that is reasonable.”