[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 104 (Wednesday, July 21, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1615-E1616]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




INTERNET CENSORSHIP; JUVENILE VIOLENCE; LOWERING THE DRINKING AGE TO 18

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BERNARD SANDERS

                               of vermont

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 21, 1999

  Mr. SANDERS. Mr. Speaker, I insert for printing in the Record 
statements by high school students from my home State of Vermont, who 
were speaking at my recent town meeting on issues facing young people 
today. I am asking that you please insert these statements in the 
Congressional Record as I believe that the views of these young persons 
will benefit my colleagues.

                          Internet Censorship

(On behalf of Amanda Cawthra, Angela Bellizzi, Renay Thompson, and Nick 
                                Stahle)

       Amanda Cawthra: The First Amendment clearly states that 
     people have the freedom of speech. However, we have to speak 
     to you about government infringement on this basic right, 
     guaranteed in the Constitution. The issue we are talking 
     about is Internet censorship, and whether the government has 
     the right to mandate what can be accessed through the Net.
       Nick Stahle: Censorship on the Internet has become a major 
     issue, especially now in the late 1990s. Several bills have 
     been proposed to protect children from explicit material, 
     such as the Communications Decency Act and the Child Online 
     Protection Act. However, we feel it is not the government's 
     place to mandate what can and cannot be posted on the 
     Internet. If parents do not want their children to be exposed 
     to this material, there are several software programs 
     available to block out these sites.
       Renay Thompson: Also, once the government steps in, who 
     decides what is objectionable and what is not? If we are 
     going to take the step of censoring sexually explicit 
     material, then why not censor other potentially offensive 
     material, such as those sites by racist groups, or even 
     antiabortionists. Obviously, this would be a violation of 
     these groups' First Amendment rights. Therefore the 
     government should not censor what appears on the Internet, 
     any more than it should censor the private, yet still 
     potentially offensive publications of these groups, or 
     pornographic magazines.
       Angela Bellizzi: Parents, librarians, teachers and others 
     that provide Internet access to children need to take the 
     responsibility of monitoring their access. Legitimate web 
     sites should not be deprived of their First Amendment right. 
     That is why, Congressman Sanders, that we conclude in asking 
     you to vote against future legislation that restricts online 
     freedom of speech.


     
                                  ____
                           Juvenile Violence

  (On behalf of David Gilbert, Melissa Jarvis, Amber Atherton, Corey 
                       Lasell and Douglas Kunkle)

       Douglas Kunkle: We originally planned to discuss our 
     feelings on NATO's action in Kosovo, but with the tragedy in 
     Littleton, we had to choose between two violent and 
     incomprehensible acts. We, with the rest of the country, have 
     been shocked and dismayed with the most recent shooting and 
     bombing incident at Columbine High School, and with the rest 
     of the country, we have discussed and debated the economic, 
     cultural, and technical factors which may have contributed to 
     the escalating trend of violent crimes committed by juveniles 
     in this country.
       We understand that there is no quick solution to this 
     problem. We only know that action must be taken.
       Corey Lasell: Murder rates are down; but not among 
     adolescents. According to Attorney General Janet Reno, the 
     problem with children killing is likely to worsen. On a 
     typical day in this country, nine teenagers are murdered, and 
     since 1965 there has been a 464 percent increase in the 
     murder arrest rate for 18-year-olds.
       Here in Vermont, we feel protected from those kinds of 
     statistics. We are lulled into thinking: ``That couldn't 
     happen in Vermont.'' But according the study conducted by the 
     Vermont Center for Justice Research, there has been a 
     dramatic increase in crimes committed by Vermont's youth, and 
     increasingly more violent ones.
       Bill Clints, Director for the Center for Justice Research, 
     said that the result of this study ``indicates the need for 
     further examination of the state's troubled youth in the 
     confidential system that protects and prosecutes them.''
       Amber Atherton: We suggest that juveniles who commit 
     violent crimes should be tried as an adult. Juveniles must be 
     taught to accept responsibility for their actions. Right now, 
     every juvenile knows the law protects them, and just about 
     anything they do will be handled with kid gloves and a slap 
     on the wrist. Punishment is usually in the form of probation 
     and/or community service. Most juvenile delinquents do not 
     get punished at all for the misdemeanor crimes, so some start 
     committing felonies. We think, because they were not punished 
     for the misdemeanor crimes, they feel they will not be 
     punished for the felonies.
       Melissa Jarvis: People are afraid to punish juveniles 
     because they want to give them a second chance. Increasingly, 
     this second chance is used to commit another crime. We think 
     it is about time that the adults in charge look at the 
     juvenile crime situation without colored glasses. This isn't 
     the '50s. Children are killing and getting killed. Those 
     killed do not get a second chance.
       We think the fear of harsher punishments would serve as a 
     deterrent for those juveniles who would be successful in 
     programs such as diversion, and curtail the activities of 
     habitual criminals. This will at least protect the general 
     population from them.
       David Gilbert: We are afraid lawmakers are scrambling 
     around to pass new laws. The killers in Littleton broke 18 
     gun laws and more. There are plenty of laws. What we need to 
     do is enforce, prosecute, and punish those who break them.


     
                                  ____
                    Lowering the Drinking Age to 18

   (On behalf of Nicholas Dandrow, Eric Williams, Beth Nadeau, Becca 
                      Bergeron and Michael French)

       Becca Bergeron: I will be speaking on behalf of the group.

[[Page E1616]]

       We feel that the drinking age should be lowered from 21 
     years of age to 18. The reasons for our proposal are:
       1. If you are 18, you are considered an adult, just the 
     same as if you were 21.
       2. If, at the age of 18, you are allowed to join or be 
     drafted into the army to fight for your country, why can't 
     you buy a six-pack of beer?
       3. Most European countries have either no drinking age or 
     it is 18 years old.
       4. Giving 18-year-olds this privilege will help them feel 
     like an adult, rather than just an 18-year-old.
       5. The drinking age was 18 at one point in this country. It 
     was during the '70s. We know the outcome was not the 
     greatest, but you have to understand that that was the '70s, 
     there was Vietnam, lots of drug use, many rebellious people 
     and organizations.
       6. Once a rule is made, the number one response is to test 
     it. That is why many people under the age of 21 consume 
     alcohol, just because they aren't supposed to.
       7. Most of this group here is 18, and once we are 18, are 
     seniors in high school. That means next year some of us will 
     be attending college. The college scene is very much more 
     older and diverse. The ages range from 18 and up, So, if you 
     are all in the same boat, what makes the 18-, 19- and 20-
     year-olds different? They can vote, drive automobiles, serve 
     the country, get into clubs, buy tobacco products, lottery 
     tickets, give blood, purchase a firearm. The one thing they 
     cannot do is purchase or consume alcohol products. What 
     difference does three years make?
       If the age were lowered, it is understood that some 
     problems may occur, such as more high school students would 
     start drinking, causing more drinking and driving. But we 
     believe awareness to be very effective. Also, stricter laws 
     to minors under the age of 18, and stricter penalties to the 
     persons supplying minors.
       As our representative, Congressman Bernie Sanders, we urge 
     you to voice our opinion to lower the drinking age to 18.

     

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