When was trick or treating ever really a good idea?
I mean don't we spend 364 days out of the year telling our children that strangers with candy are the epitome of evil? Then on Halloween we throw all caution to the wind! Go crazy kids! Why don't you make that slasher cosuume more realistic with a set of steak knives!
Here in Maryland to guard against the unthinkable we have a law (on the books since 2005 , and apparently unchallenged) that requires convicted sex offenders (and others convicted of violent crimes) to do several things to make sure they don't come into contact with the young pups of the area.
1.Post a sign (provided to you by the state and pictured above) on your door that says you wont be giving out candy
2. turn off your lights
3. stay home
If you don't do these things you can and will be found in violation of your parole.
This seems to be impinging upon that increasingly more malleable idea, civil rights . Missouri certainly seems to think so. Maryland however does not (the ACLU has no comment).
You might think that this is a rational precautionary step to take, but then again not since the late 70's has a "trick or treating related molestation" occurred. Maryland already has a registry, is this extra step necessary? Or are we simply inviting vigilante justice.
3 comments:
Man, those poor Missouri child molesters! Who will protect them from having their houses egged? What I really want to know is, what is the govt. doing to protect trick-or-treaters from Michael Myers?? That dude is a killing machine, and damn near indestructable! As long as we're talking bogeymen here, let's get real.
On a related note, I was pleased to read that the only man who has ever been convicted of killing a child on Halloween was released despite his psychiatrist's warning that he's still dangerous and recently won a discrimination lawsuit against a waste management company for refusing to hire him. What a country!
Katy, Thank you for pointing to my post at f/k/a. According to the Washington Times, there is no statute in Maryland mandating these restrictions. My quick research also found none. That means the Division of Parole and Probation is imposing these intrusive requirements on its own.
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