Sex Offenders Barred from U.S. Halloween Festivities
A California county Tuesday banned sex offenders from decorating their homes to attract kids on Halloween or from giving out candy to children when they come "trick or treating."
The Riverside County ordinance also barred sex offenders from lighting up their homes on the evening of October 31, when youngsters traditionally go door-to-door in search of treats.
That would mean no pumpkins, no scary goblins, and no answering the door from 5:00 pm to midnight.
"This is another way in which to prevent youngsters in our community from coming into contact with registrants" on the sex offender list, said County Supervisor Jeff Stone.
"Our responsibility is to protect the health, safety and welfare of our citizens... One molestation is too many in this county."
But county resident Julie Waltz said she was unimpressed with the ordinance.
"You can't control these people," she said. "The laws of the state need to be changed. We need to direct our efforts into changing the laws instead of spending $20,000 of taxpayer money on another ordinance."
Source: Agence France Presse
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