Iowa State Daily Editorial Board: Troy McCullough, Tim Davis, Jennifer Holland, Kathleen Carlson and Jenny Hykes.

The recent violence in Des Moines has thousands outraged and disturbed that the city could have such problems. The young people are the perpetrators and the victims.

There used to be a day when people cared where children spent their time, and gave them things to do and places to play. But in 1996 the work day is longer for many parents, and their children are left to fend for themselves. Many have wandered to the streets were the game king of the hill is played with a .45 caliber that is fired with intention to kill.

Don Nickerson, U.S. attorney in Des Moines, says that the African-American communities have become too fragmented. He has called for local organizations to help provide solutions to the unnecessary violence. Nickerson has suggested establishing an organization that monitors street activity. This is an unrestricted level of supervision that provides support and guidance when the parents can’t be around.

But Odell McGhee, Polk county prosecutor, has suggested a curfew for teens. Parents should know where there children are at 10:30 p.m., McGhee said.

Placing a curfew for all youths lacks the support that so many teens need. Young minds need encouragement and ideas, not the City Council telling them to go home. “Criminals are taking over,” McGhee said, but installing a curfew won’t help the next person who drives through a gun battle on their way home from work at 5:30 p.m. A curfew wrongfully calls all teens criminals. There is undoubtedly an increase in teen violence, but not all teens can be labeled as delinquents. A curfew is not the cure. Education and involvement are the key to a solution.