August 29, 2016, a group of clowns strike fear into the hearts of Americans with attempts to scare children from a forest in Greenville County, South Carolina.  Since then, these so-called pranks have been imitated in as many as ten states nationwide, forcing police officers to respond and utilize resources that would otherwise be assigned to areas of need.  Hoax?  Maybe. Nevertheless, this domino effect of childish behavior birthed a sense of paranoia and fear that robs families of the innocence of Halloween.

Flash forward to September 30th.  According to the New York Times, twelve arrests have been made in more than ten states. This is all due to perceived threats that have gone so far as to people being followed to their homes and even attacked.  One of the most recent cases featured an assailant in a clown suit attacking a student in a housing complex in San Marcos, Texas.  This, along with many other attempts focused on assaulting children, has brought a sense of fear into this year’s Halloween season that has forced many parents to question whether they want to take their children trick – or – treating.

A holiday that is supposed to be focused on kids dressing up as clowns and overindulging in candy is now centered around adults dressing as clowns trying to feast on the fear of the innocent.

In hopes to alleviate some of the tension as the 31st approaches, a Connecticut school district has urged authorities to ban clown costumes; though these claims of makeup-cloaked hooligans originated on the east coast, this threat is starting to rear its ugly head in our backyard.

Colorado residents have reported seeing these mystery men roaming around.  This pushed Jefferson County officials into sending a warning letter to parents of students notifying them of some of the rumors circulating.

More and more recent sightings have been made of men dressed in clown outfits wielding machetes and hatchets who have gone to the extent of chasing unsuspecting bystanders into their homes and waiting in the shadows.  This is becoming less and less like a joke.

This, in no way, is what the spirit of Halloween is supposed to represent.  Tricks, yes.  Treating us to terror?  No.

Be cautious.  Take extra security measures you need to feel safe (curfews, buddy system, pepper spray), but more importantly, assure that your kids feel safe.

The 31st of October is supposed to be about being a kid getting sick from all the candy; this year, all the clowning around is just making people sick.