Dear Clowns,

Whatever has inclined you to decide to dress up as scary clowns just to frighten innocent people, it needs to stop. You may think that this act is a meaningless prank, and that no harm will come from it, but I assure you, plenty of harm has already occurred.

You are scaring people into not wanting to leave their homes at night. You are scaring people into buying pepper spray and pocket knives and clutching them tightly anytime they walk somewhere. It is already frightening enough to walk alone at night, but you are causing this fear to spike. This is not funny, a joke, or okay in any manner.

I don't understand why it is that you have chosen to put people in fear, but maybe this will shake you up a bit: you aren't just scaring innocent adults, you are scaring children. There are stories of children who are too afraid to go to school because they think the "clown" will get them. There are children who no longer want to play outside because they're terrified a clown is waiting to hurt them out there. How can you be okay with scaring children in such a way that it is impacting their education, feeling of security, and life? Children inevitably find things out, whether it is from the news, their parents, or their friends at school. There is no hiding this "clown craze" from them. Why would you want to do that to them?

You are essentially scaring yourself as well--at least, you should be scared. Several "clowns" have gotten arrested for inciting panic in the public. People have also gone to extreme measures of eliminating the clowns as well on a few occasions, such as hitting the clowns with baseball or ganging up on them to beat them up. These "pranksters" are getting physically hurt and even charged for their "joke" they are trying to pull. This could easily happen to you. Why are you putting yourself at such risk? Is freaking people out really worth it for you?

What you're doing is sick. I don't know who you are, or why you're doing this, but please stop. It is ridiculous and has gotten way out of hand. No one should have to be afraid because of a stupid prank. Rethink the choices you have made and change your behaviors. Please help put everyone back at ease.

Sincerely,

The General Public