It seems with Halloween approaching that people have decided to start the scare tactics a little early. The latest craze across the country and in other parts of the world is clown scares. These aren't the clowns that we are used to seeing at kid’s parties that know how to juggle and make balloon animals. The clowns that are seen across the country and in the media are far less innocent. Because of the latest clown scares, the feeling of safety and security has altered in a negative way. Some may ask the question, what is so scary about a clown? And to answer I start with the drastic change in the appearance of these new crazed clowns. Clowns have change up their wardrobe and have gone from clean, bright, and innocent to dirty, dark and demented. They have changed their antics from juggling balls and blowing up balloons to wielding knives and chasing children. Their demeanor has gone from friendly and jolly to suspect and chaotic. The point is that these are not the clowns the world has once known.

What if the rise in scary clowns is connected to Halloween and the festivities that are involved? In instances such as clowns in haunted houses or costume stores, yes there is correlation; however, these aren't the clowns causing a problem. The clowns that have the media stirred up are the ones that show up to your door step, local park, or even an elementary school. It seems that these clown scares are all in good fun and supposed to be some sort of prank, but the joke isn't as funny as it seems.

With midterms in the headlights, homecoming in the back of our minds, and our daily struggles it seems that we have enough to worry about without sinister clowns. All it takes is one clown sighting for the safety and security of a location to be questioned and disrupted. The park around the corner may have been the best place for an evening jog until the news puts out a story that explain an evil clown with a knife who walks the track at night. The effect that these clowns have had on the country are similar to that of a terrorist attack. These acts of intimidation should not be taken any less serious as other terrorist actions. Events such as the marathon bombing and the attack of the twin towers are clearly not equivalent to clown scares but they all have the same effect on society that leaves them feeling less safe after the events occurs. So the next time a person chooses to put on a scary clown suit and intimidate others I urge them to thoroughly think about the damage of their actions and quit clowning around.