Pubdate: Sun, 03 May 2009 Source: Edmonton Journal (CN AB) Copyright: 2009 The Edmonton Journal Contact: http://www2.canada.com/edmontonjournal/letters.html Website: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/134 Author: Robert Belter Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n477/a07.html NOTE TO PARENTS: 12-YEAR-OLDS SHOULDN'T BE HANGING OUT AT THE MALL Re: "Rock 'n' Ride notorious for drug use, counsellor says; Problem not limited to one mall -- or to one drug," The Journal, April 29. When will parents realize that there is nothing good, nothing positive and nothing gained by allowing their 12- to 17-year-olds to hang out at a Rock 'n' Ride, or any other event at West Edmonton Mall? There is certainly a lot to lose -- 14-year-old Cassandra Williams' life was taken away by a brief lapse of judgment. There are 12-year-olds at these events, where drug use is rampant. It seems like there also are a lot of 12-year-olds hanging around the mall when they should be home in bed. It's time for some parents to say no to their children. Reports of drugs, violence, solicitation and a lot more at WEM and other locations have been in the news for years. So why do parents let their children attend these events? If parents don't know what is going on, then it is their job to find out. Maybe if more parents were actively parenting and not allowing their kids to do things they should not, the scum that these events attract would just go away. Twelve-year-olds should not be mingling with 17-year-olds at a place where we know drugs and bad things are rampant. This is not a good situation. Robert Belter, Edmonton - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D