We Blame Wes Craven

See, even, sexual, serial killers of children 'aint all bad

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September 21, 2013, 6:57 p.m.

O.C. city likely to drop Halloween law aimed at sex offenders

"A lawsuit challenges a city of Orange law requiring sex offenders to post signs to discourage trick-or-treaters.

An Orange County city will probably toss out a law requiring registered sex offenders to post a sign in front of their homes on Halloween to discourage trick-or-treaters after it was hit with a federal lawsuit alleging the practice is unconstitutional."

http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-halloween-sex-offenders-20130922,0,259967.story
http://sexoffenderissues.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/ca-oc-city-likely-to-drop-halloween-law.html#.UkFURlNjP1E

California Sex Offenders Get Halloween Victory

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2013/09/california-sex-offenders-get-halloween-victory

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Thursday, October 3, 2013 12:00 am

Halloween rules for sex offenders proposed in Tulsa

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/halloween-rules-for-sex-offenders-proposed-in-tulsa/article_84b16bca-62b1-5213-b56e-f0a311ed9404.html

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Thursday, October 10 2013, 08:19 AM EDT

Some Sex Offenders Allowed to Trick-Or-Treat

http://www.abc22now.com/shared/news/top-stories/stories/wkef_some-sex-offenders-allowed-trickortreat-16473.shtml#.Uldyit1W1fs.twitter

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22 October 2009

Halloween Sex Offenders Policies Questioned

"KIDS MORE AT RISK TO GET HIT BY A CAR WHILE TRICK OR TREATING

The rates of non-familial sex crimes against children under the age of 12 are no higher during the Halloween season than at any other times of the year, according to a study published in the September issue of Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment (published by SAGE). The findings raise questions about the wisdom of law enforcement practices aimed at dealing with a problem that does not appear to exist.

Using the National Incident-Base Reporting System, the study looked at more than 67,000 non-family sex offenses reported to law enforcement in 30 states across nine years. Taking into account such variables as time, seasonality and weekday periodicity, the researchers found no increased rate of sexual abuse during the Halloween season. Additionally, the number of reported incidences didn’t vary before or after police procedures were implemented to prevent such abuse.

“We do not suggest that there is no risk on Halloween or that parents should abandon caution and supervision of their children,” write the authors in the article. “But there does not appear to be a need for alarm concerning sexual abuse on these particular days. In short, Halloween appears to be just another autumn day where rates of sex crimes against children are concerned.”

Research has found that the highest danger for children during the Halloween season was from pedestrian- motor vehicle accidents, not from sexual abuse by strangers.

“It is important for policy makers to consider allocation of resources in light of the actual increased risks that exist in areas besides Halloween sex offender policies,” the authors conclude. “Our findings indicated that sex crimes against children by nonfamily members account for 2 out of every 1,000 Halloween crimes, calling into question the justification for diverting law enforcement resources away from more prevalent public safety concerns.” “How Safe Are Trick-or-Treaters?: An Analysis of Child Sex Crime Rates on Halloween” in Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment was written by Mark Chaffin, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center;Jill Levenson, Lynn University;Elizabeth Letourneau, Medical University of South Carolina Family Services Research Center; and Paul Stern, Snohomish County Prosecutors Office.

It is available free of charge for a limited time at http://sax.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/21/3/363."

http://sax.sagepub.com/content/21/3/363.full.pdf+html

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Posted: 7:33 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, 2013

How safe is Trick or Treat for kids?

"Clark County Sheriff Gene Kelly said: "We want parents weeks before Halloween to think about where they're going to trick or treat, who is going to be with the children.""

http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/news/crime-law/how-safe-trick-or-treat-kids/nbSTp/

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October 18, 2013

Where Did the Fear of Poisoned Halloween Candy Come From?

"The answer, as always, is to blame the media."

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/Where-Did-the-Fear-of-Poisoned-Halloween-Candy-Come-From-228023541.html#.UmP5GPfwjfg.twitter

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Posted: 10/21/2013 9:24 am

Manufacturing Fear: Halloween Laws for Sex Offenders

"In North Carolina, a sheriff tells parents to check the online sex offender registry before allowing children to trick-or-treat. In Montana, a town offers a "trunk-or-treat" event where kids can get Halloween candy from trunks of cars in a parking lot to avoid potential danger. In New York, "Operation Halloween: Zero Tolerance" prohibits sex offenders from wearing masks or costumes or answering their doors on Halloween, and, as a parole source says, "There is certainly nothing more frightening than the thought of one of these men opening their door to innocent children."

In Oklahoma, a city council is considering an ordinance forbidding sex offenders from decorating their homes or passing out candy on Halloween. In Orange, California, sex offenders can't answer their door or have outside lighting on Halloween, but an additional ordinance requiring window signs saying, "No candy or treats at this residence" was recently revoked after attorneys argued it was a form of cruel and unusual punishment."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/emilyhorowitz/manufacturing-fear-hallow_b_4135793.html

http://sexoffenderissues.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/manufacturing-fear-halloween-laws-for.html

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October 21, 2013

Sex Offenders and Halloween

"So please, enjoy Halloween; help your kids enjoy Halloween. And please spare a moment to think about the children whose Halloween enjoyment is curtailed because one of their parents is a registered sex offender and they are unfortunate enough to live in one of the jurisdictions where unneeded laws and restrictions make Halloween all trick and no treat for them."

http://www.freerangekids.com/sex-offenders-and-halloween

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Is August Too Early to Write About Sex Offenders and Halloween?

"Our country has many problems. We need to focus our resources on the actual problems, and we need to frame legislation and laws so that they reflect what empirical evidence shows. We do not need any more laws on the books that address issues that do not even exist."

http://www.with-justiceforall.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/is-august-too-early-to-write-about-sex.html

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Halloween Hysteria

"Oh the horror, mass hysteria over a non existent problem! Name one child who has been "snatched," and sexually abused on Halloween by a known or unknown sex offender. I know of one, back in 1973, but that doesn't justify this yearly hysteria."

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2B1424396016DA8A

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When it comes to safety, Halloween need not be scary

http://www.inmaricopa.com/Article/2013/10/27/halloween-safety-tips-dignity-health-fire-police-razorblades

PRO: No evidence of more sadism, sex crimes during Halloween

http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2013/oct/27/pro_jp_102813_223359/?entertainment

Crime Poll: The Biggest Threat to Trick-or-Treaters

http://crime.about.com/b/2013/10/28/crime-poll-the-biggest-threat-to-trick-or-treaters.htm

HALLOWEEN HYSTERIA AT ALL-TIME HIGH

http://us6.campaign-archive1.com/?u=fefc199147272a1ba74438c1f&id=778b6c1d2b