https://wgntv.com/2018/10/30/sheriff-puts-no-trick-or-treat-signs-in-yards-of-sex-offenders/ - These Should Be Everywhere!
JACKSON, Ga. — A Georgia sheriff decided to post signs in the front yards of sex offenders to alert trick-or-treaters and their parents on Halloween.
The Butts County Sheriff’s Office posted a notice to Facebook on Saturday.
“Georgia law forbids registered sex offenders from participating in Halloween, to include decorations on their property,” Sheriff Gary Long said in the notice. “With the Halloween on the square not taking place this year, I fully expect the neighborhoods to be very active with children trick-or-treating.”
The signs read, “WARNING! NO TRICK-OR-TREAT AT THIS ADDRESS!!” and feature a trick-or-treating bag covered over by the universal “no symbol.”
The effort aims to make sure that families can identify the homes where a sex offender might answer the door.
“There are some sex offenders that are not happy,” Long told WCNC. “But I’m not in the business of making them happy. I’m in the business of keeping safe communities and making sure that our children are protected.”
In response to any potential questions about the legality of the signs, Long added in parenthesis that the action was in accordance with Georgia Law O.C.G.A. 42-1-12-i(5), “which states the sheriff shall inform the public of the presence of sexual offenders in each community.”
Each county includes an offender watch page on the county website. They also include a link to the statewide sex offender registry.
Pizzagate related and this time for a good reason. A figure of authority taking the initiative to create a safe environment for Our Children by
letting parents know where sex offenders reside, protecting Their Children. We have had many stories of LE being compromised, so this is refreshing.
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TimberWolfAlpha ago
I feel like this is ultimately a bad idea.
Why? My first reaction to the notion of these signs is "Fuck that sherriff, I'm going to go up and ring their doorbell" and I KNOW that would have been my reaction as a kid, too. Even if nobody's home, a sign telling kids not to go there, is just going to make a sizeable percentage of kids WANT to go there.
carmencita ago
I disagree. Most Children have been told by their parents over and over about sex offenders. They have scared them over and over and told them how to defend. I seriously think the Children will not go ring that doorbell. Btw, most parents now accompany them on Halloween. All the Children that came to our house all had parents with them. I don't think they would ring the bells either. We thanked all the parents.
TimberWolfAlpha ago
I'd say about 30% of the children who came trick or treating here, had their parents with them. It varies from place to place, but I've been haunting a yard ever since I stopped trick or treating, and I see plenty of unaccompanied kids.
carmencita ago
I don't know why your area is different, most of my friends and relatives said they saw parents with almost all Children. I would imagine though that it is hard for single Moms that have different ages. I did see Moms with older ones and toddlers and babies in strollers. Lots of just dads withe them too. Nice to see.
TimberWolfAlpha ago
I think it's just that I don't live somewhere shitty, and some parents still know how to raise independent children.
carmencita ago
We used to be able to do that. Now they are being nabbed. I hear it on my local news. But many fight and bite. Good for them.