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Annual Halloween scare tactic on sex offenders doesn't improve public safety

I'm republishing this Halloween post from last year after seeing lately the resumption of what's become an annual trend: Halloween themed demagoguing and media hype from law enforcement - usually locally generated but seemingly widespread and coordinated - over the possibility of registered sex offenders molesting kids who come to the door at Halloween, an event so rare (there's only been one documented case, ever, of a Halloween abduction) that a kid would be much more likely to select tomorrow's winning lottery numbers.Some Texas jurisdictions actually round up every sex offender and keep them in one place during trick or treating hours. This year, the latest gimmick is requiring sex offenders to post a "Scarlet Pumpkin" on their door instead of just turning the lights off...continue to full post

Full post as published by Grits for Breakfast on October 17, 2008 (boomark / email).