What a waste of time. Come on with elections looming you should be writing about the SUpreme Court decision overturning the totally bogus Circuit Court's opinion regarding voter registration in Ohio.

First to notice the typos, again.

"knocked on of the bullies right on the temple"

OR

"knocked ONE of the bullies right on the temple"

YOU SUCK

I wish those kids would have beat you senseless. Then, at least, you would have an excuse.

--Subtle T19 3L

a) Do you realize you're setting yourself up BIG TIME for fatty comments?
b) Your grammar, as per usual, is horrific:

- "knocked on [sic] of the bullies right on the temple"
- "amazingly stupid for parents to let their kids gambol [sic] through the night unattended"

c) First?

Actually, civil libertarians have already found issues with a similar law in Missouri. Way to research your post.

http://www.myfoxkc.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=7604511&version=2&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=1.1.1

Actually, civil libertarians have already found issues with a similar law in Missouri. Way to research your post.

http://www.myfoxkc.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=7604511&version=2&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=1.1.1

MysTTTal

a) Do you realize you're setting yourself up BIG TIME for fatty comments?
b) Your grammar, as per usual, is horrific:

- "knocked on [sic] of the bullies right on the temple"
- "amazingly stupid for parents to let their kids gambol [sic] through the night unattended"

Is that a picture of HAMystal? I think it is. Suck it.

T-14 6L.

Only idiots allow their children to gambol unattended throughout the Halloween night.

~In House Counsel

Why would they make offenders put up a Halloween-themed sign to try to ward off trick-or-treaters? And making them stay home and turn off lights doesn't really help. Wouldn't a pumpkin sign lure kids closer to the offender's dark house, where the offender is required to be that night?

Why don't you make it a condition of letting the sickos out that they all must go to a common place (like a high school gym or something) on Halloween where they can be monitored. Instead, they're making them stay at home in the dark waiting for unsuspecting kids? That would be like taking Elie to the all-you-can-eat buffet and making him wait in the car. Eventually, he'll bust down that door and dive headfirst into the fried foods section.

Hey, MysTTTal, you should share this harrowing tale of the no candy Halloween with your shrink, it may be the key to solving your donut addiction.

If you're going to be dicks and correct the poster's grammar, then can you hit the post comment button once? Correcting inconsequential grammatical errors and spell checking blogs does not demonstrate intelligence.

Do you read what you write before you post, Elie?

-Elie Mystal: Havard Law only by URM status

In addition to the ones mentioned:

"On the way home, my bag full of goodies, I got jumped..."

"Sensing the these boys were not going to listen..."

I don't normally knock Elie, but that was a rough post.

Everyone correcting the grammar mistakes...don't you get it already? He makes them on purpose. It is all part of a brilliant business plan Lat and Mystttal hatched. Poor spelling-->Anal retentive attorneys/law students can't contain themselves and correct it-->more comments-->more advertisers-->PROFIT!

I kind of enjoy it personally, it is like 'Where is Waldo' for nerds.

dude, trick or treating with your parents? are you serious?

the pussification of america continues....

Seems strange to align only conservatives with wanting measures to protect children from convicted molesters. Plenty of self-described liberals are in favor of stricter regulations and codes of conducts for sex offenders. The problem with this particular provision is that it's more likely to attract kids to the house. Though maybe they're hoping the kids will tp and egg that house.

Who you calling boy?

Is this post about racism or delicious snacks?

Big surprise that all of Elie's friends ran away and he was the last one left. (Yes, that is a fat joke)

Sorry to burst all of you grammar/spelling nazis, but "gambol" is actually a word. It means "To leap about playfully; frolic."

Anyone care to critique this one: "Unfortunately, they were many and I was 8." Kind of awkward to me.

In my day, in my old 'hood, this kind of sign would result in a good egging or TP-ing of the scrooge-like house. Perhaps that's the intent, and these skeevy pervs get what's due.

6,
Not that I think it's unfair to knock Elie, but f*ck . . . if you're going to knock him, don't be a f*cking retard yourself. "Your grammar, as per usual, is horrific"? Seriously? Did you think of this after driving to work at 60 miles per an hour on the highway? I like adding unncessary words to my sentences, too. Also, there's a distinction between typos and grammatical errors. The first issue you point out is a typo. The second you perceive as a grammatical error is in fact not--"gambol" can be used as a verb, and it means to skip about in play. Douche.

That being said, Elie, proof your shit.

1. Elie, you sir are an idiot.

2. Child molesters have a nearly 100% recidivism rate and are the scum of the earth.

3. For instructions on how to properly deal with a child molester, please see the most recent episode of Dexter.

Elie for EIC of "Parenting"

This year Halloween fell on a weekend...
Me and Ghetto Boys went trick or treatin'...
Robbin' little kids for bags...

Don't listen to the haters, this was a solid post.

Even with all of the criticism above, nobody's going after Mystal for dressing up as Ted Kennedy when he was 8 years old? Seriously?

I liked "Unfortunately, they were many and I was 8."

Actually, Ted Kennedy is a fairly easy costume. Drunk, sopping wet, and without a car.

I liiked this post... but I am still mad I have to put that silly pumpkin on my house.

Good thing they are not requiring me to put one on my windowless van, otherwise I would get no action this Halloween.

Even with all of the criticism above, nobody's going after Mystal for dressing up as Ted Kennedy when he was 8 years old? Seriously?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA - Mystal as Ted Kennedy. You should have opened the briefcase, removed the prop bottle of gin, and broken it over the many's collective head.

Wed be in for a squab no doubt
So I swung and hit the nigga in his mouth
He was going down, we figured
But this was no ordinary nigga
He stood about six or seven feet
Now, thats the nigga Id been seeing in my sleep.

It occurred to me later that a dude of six feet would actually seem scary to a midget.

WTF is the point of this blog?!?!? Are you now just picking stories because of some possible connection to your past, Elie? Next you are going to talk about the time you reached puberty and link it to a post about Lawrence v. Texas!

So the premise of your objection is that the law/request is not needed if parents go trick or treating with their kids.

Of course that would only be true if the concern to be addressed is solely that you don't want your kids molested on Halloween night. If there are additional concerns involved, perhaps like not having children associate a sex offender and the sex offender's home as a nice, safe place to visit, then the thrust of your objection misses the target.

For example, if you take your 8 year old to a neighbor's house for candy on Oct. 31st and he/she receives candy, it is likely your 8 year old is going to think the neighbor is nice for giving candy, and that the home is a good place. It would seem quite logical that the parole officers, community and law enforcement at large would want to take steps to prevent children from developing this misconception.

Finally, unless this requirement is being imposed on individuals who were not required to register as sex offenders, there is no harm being imposed on the people who have to display the silly pumpkin.

thanks for posting this article and commenting with your worthless personal opinion and a shallow mention of the possible legal issues.

I call bullshit on this story, at least the part about it happening to Elie. I think Elie either invented it or "borrowed" it from elsewhere. Why else would he begin with "True story" in this context? Elie, stop trying to be cool with your "true stories." This one didn't even relate to the subject of the post.

36's mind is playing tricks on him. great post, bushwick bill.

If HOPE WINTERS wrote a story about her sexy law firm Halloween experience it will go like this:
1. like, OMG, I was so bored at big law and everybody kept wanting my sexy friend and I;
2. my slutty friend, who I have to constantly discourage from having sex with geeky parthers, was so sexy in her slutty witch costume;
3. My friend sucked some milk out of the lactating partner's moobs;
4. OMG I secretly wish I was my slutty friend--teehee!

V Monkey

Does this apply to ALL sex offenders or only to those who were convicted of offenses against children? Lots of sex offenses (e.g. public nudity, public lewdness, or even rape) don't have anything to do with danger to children.

This story happened, but not on Halloween and not when Mystal was 8. It was yesterday, and Mystal was jumped while loitering outside of a Dunkin Donuts.

So the problem with Halloween violence is that it's a pagan holiday, thus it is dangerous?

Thanks, Elie, for speaking out for the thousands of trick-or-treaters sacrificed every year to placate angry Aztec gods.

Also, theory: Those kids didn't jump you because you were small, outnumbered or had candy. They jumped you because you were an eight-year-old kid who'd want to dress as Ted Kennedy on Halloween.

Texas will ruin Halloween like it has ruined everything else, including Canada.

Ted Kennedy?

Did your costume include a dead woman at the bottom of a river?

Hey #6, gambol is a word. Idiot.

This is cruel and unusual punishment for people who have served their debt to society. Most crimes against persons have very high recidivism rates, including muggers, rapists, murderers, drunk drivers. Yet we don't violate their civil liberties like this by making them sit in the house in the dark and put signs outside their houses. The Democrats elect these people to Congress.

49 - what an absolutely idiotic post. It's the Republicans who elect these people to Congress and the Catholic churches who ordinate these people priests.

What is a "faux" briefcase? Was it a piece of wood that you'd made to look like a briefcase? Idiot.

6/10, get out your dictionary (if you have one) and look up "gambol"

And learn to hit the send button once

I thought this was a pretty good post. Liked the story, got here too late for the apparent typos. I think part of the problem, Elie, is that don't really know who you are like we know who Lat is. This was a good start.

But 6, you are a fucking a moron.

I can't even get through all the comments without spitting up all over my comp...I saw a post about Elie being Ted Kennedy (did get drunk and kill a girl that night for effect) and being beat up and I knew this would get routy.

Elie - glad you got your shit knocked out. I would've left your candy because I'd have done it just to beat an 8 yo ass who dresses as Ted Kennedy you precocious pile manure.

Joe Biden asked Sara Palin what the difference between her mouth and her vagina was?

Not everything that comes out of her vagina is retarded.

P.S. Hope Winters should get plastered in sticky 50s.

47 -- The bridge in question (Dike Bridge) crosses a tidal chanel between Chappaquiddick Island and Martha's Vineyard. There is no river to speak of.

50 -- I believe Priests are ordained by the church, not "ordinated." Though I suppose it would be helpful if the church put such offending Priests into order -- so to speak.

47 -- The bridge in question (Dike Bridge) crosses a tidal chanel between Chappaquiddick Island and Martha's Vineyard. There is no river to speak of.

50 -- I believe priests are ordained by the church, not "ordinated." Though I suppose it would be helpful if the church put such offending priests into order -- so to speak.

56 - your beliefs are of no consequence. I suppose next your going to tell Mystal that there is no such word as "gambol"

58 -- I was being kind (or sarcastic) and the use of ordinate in that context is clearly mistaken and quite retarded.

Child sex offenders have (some of?) the highest recidivism rates. No, they should not be allowed to have unsupervised children over for trick-or-treating. I GUARANTEE that these people already have prohibitions on going near schools and playgrounds, but those rules forgot the one night a year when the kiddies come to them. So this rule counteracts that. Unfortunately, it does draw attention to their sex offender status, but people in the neighborhood probably already know - the information is online through sex offender registries.

It's not necessary to have adult supervision above a certain age (say, 12?) for trick-or-treating in a neighborhood without busy streets.

It's one thing to have these post-prison rules for criminals who don't repeat their offenses. But these aren't those criminals.

Side note: "Little Children" was a creepy as hell movie.

59, the use of 'ordinate' is in that context is commonly used by 'the church' - whether it is technically correct or not is the purview of small minds.

61 -- Your suggestion that ordinate is commonly used by the church in place or ordained is both unsupported and ridiculous. The word's use is not "technically" incorrect, it simply has no applciation to what you are trying to say. You completely misued the word and now you are sadly trying to defend it. Your are a moron. Enough said.

The parents of guys in my high school used to let their kids gamble through the night all the time, it was no big deal (unless they really lost a lot of money).

Good substantive post for a change. Me likey.

62 - since you insist on having the last word, I'll take that away from you again. Incidentally, what does 'applciation' mean in this context?

I really don't see how this program helps anybody. Why can't they just send out a note telling sex offenders to stay inside with their lights off and to not answer the door if any trick-or-treaters show up? Doesn't that achieve the same end? I'm as revolted by pedophiles as the next person, but this seems a bit misguided.

lol - yeah, send them a note, that'll work. I think the idea is to provide notice to the public (for obvious reasons) and to law enforcement (who can drive by and check the front door to ensure compliance).

"8-years-old" should not be hyphenated. Jesus Tap-Dancing Christ, what do they teach at HLS besides pie-eating?

67: This is a public shaming that has nothing to do with notice to the public. Isn't the sex offender registry notice enough? Also, the police can drive by to see if the person's lights are off. If a sex offender is that much of a recidivism risk, then he or she should be in prison or in some kind of mental hospital or halfway house under supervision for longer.

Jesus Tap-Dancing Christ
Christ on a Cracker
Jesus Mary and Joseph
Jesus H. Christ
Sweet Leaping Jesus on a trampoline

Am I missing any?

69 - of course the sex offender registry isn't notice enough - what 8 year old would know to check it? Idiot. Agree with you that they should be locked up though.

36 - thanks for loving the ghetto boys and bushwick bill as much as me.

Every halloween when "minds playing tricks on me" lays the vibe I rock my buffalo stance then proceed to my gangsta boogie.

10 please see:
gam·bol /ˈgæmbəl/ verb, -boled, -bol·ing or (especially British) -bolled, -bol·ling, noun
–verb (used without object) 1. to skip about, as in dancing or playing; frolic.
–noun 2. a skipping or frisking about; frolic.

27-get your facts straight. Recidivism for child molesters is roughly 13-20%. Meanwhile, recidivism for non-sexual felonies is roughly 45%-65%.

All of these Meeagan's Law inspired rules are emotional, not rational.

72 - The Geto Boys, you stupid, stupid shit.

74,

I take it that you are willing to have your 5 year old be taken care of by a former child molester on the grounds that there is a 13-20 percent chance that he will "touch" your child?

You stupid, utter piece of shite.

74 - assuming you got your 'facts' straight, for which you provide no support and which seem to contradict everything I've ever heard on the subject, what you mean is that roughly 13-20% of child molesters are CAUGHT doing it again.

I just turn the lights off and don't answer the door.

74--the statistics on recidivism vary depending on source, are not detailed enough to be conclusive and don't take into account child molesters who weren't convicted (proving sex offense is one of the most difficult things to do, especially when children are involved). Pyschological studies which focus on the mental drive and motivation to molest children indicate this is not something that can be cured and is difficult to control. The statistics based on actual convicted child molesters vary and certainly not all studies indicate a 13-20 percent rate that you imply.

I believe, contrary to 74, the general recidivism rate fro child molesters is 100 percent.

That's why they have a generally low survival rate in the general jail population. The inmates in general population instinctively understand that instead of citing studies done by liberals.

POSTER #80, your opinion means nothing. The facts are reoffense rates for convicted sex offenders are low. The US Dept. of Justice found only 5% reoffended. Many other studies find comparatively low rates. Your beliefs don't mean squat. The facts mean a lot. But that's why you're just a moron instead of a researcher.

81 - why are you spending time on a legal tabloid when you should be getting ready for little league practice?

Maybe child molesters reoffend less than other types of criminals because child molesters are monitored much more closely post-release than other types of criminals.

First, there has NEVER been a case of a registered sex offender molesting trick-or-treaters. There was ONE case, in 1973, of a man who committed such a crime on Halloween, but he had NO criminal record prior to this horrific incident. Therefor, it is not rational to require any special restrictions of registered offenders on Halloween. It's just a waste of money and a public attention-getting gimick.
Second, the US DOJ Statistics, Arizona state DOC, and several other official state statistics state that the re-offense of sex offenders is low for ANY future crime, at about 40-45%, including technical violations of parole/probation. The rate at which they re-commit sexual offenses is much lower, being less than 10% in most studies. 90% of new sex crimes are committed by someone who has never been arrested for a sex crime.
These are the FACTS. Whether you choose to believe them or not is up to you.

You will all be very happy and relieved to know, that there has NEVER been a Halloweener in the history of the United States that has ever been molested by a registered sex offender.

Both Halloween and Election Day are coming. So, we’re not at all surprised that politicians across the nation are once again posing as Heroes in the fight against the Great Sex Offender Trick-or-Treat Bogeyman. Under the banner of protecting children, they’re restricting the actions of all sex offenders on Halloween, and sending out hordes of probation officers to make sure they stay in their homes (and, in some states, target themselves by posting “No Candy Here” signs), while expecting sheriff and police officials to monitor sex offender compliance on an already especially busy night.
http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/ethicalesq/...

It amazes me that it can be proved with government statics that there has NEVER been a case where a REGISTERED sex offender EVER molested a trick or treater at their door. Or harmed them in any way. So what is the problem here.

Well, politicians are the real scary ones out there. They and the news media for ratings and votes will do and say anything. That’s the bottom line.

When I grew up, I heard some of my elders tell me not to drink in that fountain because a black man or woman would drink from it. I always asked why could I not drink there? Would I get germs??? Would it make me sick??

In today’s society, the politician’s have lied to the public about the recidivism rates of sex offenders. Politician’s have lied to the public about “stranger danger” as most offenses occur between a family member or someone the victim knows. These are facts not just spouting’s.

Parents do need to keep an eye on their children as they always have, but there is no reason to believe that someone is lurking around the corner or behind every bush that is going to take an hurt your child.

Happy Halloween. Beware of politicians. They are the scariest of them all.

Only one who is inherently interested in fear mongering would use Halloween to petrify the public into thinking that Halloween is unsafe because of the presence of RSO’s. To calculate risk in epidemiology, you divide the number of cases divided by the population of interest. In this case it would be 1/650,000. The risk is so incredibly low that my calculator gives the division an error!!!!!! ” That is only for 1 year, now times that by say, 50 years. OH MY! Fear mongering is what the entertainment news media and politicians are MORE concerned about than protecting children.
MSLGWCEO at www.cfcoklahoma.org

Read this article, "MORE SCARY HALLOWEEN LAWS AGAINST SEX OFFENDERS."
Here: http://www.cfcoklahoma.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=186%3Amore-scary-halloween-laws-against-sex-offenders&Itemid=1

Isn't it annoying that people from Long Island always say "on Long Island?" I never hear people say "when I was a a kid growing up on Maui" or "on Puerto Rico" or on any number of other islands on Earth.

Amen, 85. The vast majority of terrible things that happen to children happen right at home. If you really give a shit about children, support Head Start and univeral health care and pay social service workers enough to actually do their jobs rather than fixate on exceedingly rare "stranger danger" risks.

Wow, so many NAMBLA members on ATL. Who knew?

I doubt a simple pumpkin sticker would attract kids, given the many other well-decorated (and lighted) surrounding houses.

"It's a pagan holiday and bad stuff can happen."

What does Halloween being a pagan holiday have to do with it being dangerous? Ignorant statement. Dangerous things happen to little children everyday that have nothing to do with paganism. Check the Catholic church.

Not to mention it's been co-opted and no longer even associated with paganism for most people. People of all religions take their kids trick-or-treating and get them dressed up for Halloween.

"It's a pagan holiday and bad stuff can happen."

What does Halloween being a pagan holiday have to do with it being dangerous? Ignorant statement. Dangerous things happen to little children everyday that have nothing to do with paganism. Check the Catholic church.

Not to mention it's been co-opted and no longer even associated with paganism for most people. People of all religions take their kids trick-or-treating and get them dressed up for Halloween.

First of all, child molesters are the most despicable people on Earth. That being said, sex offender laws in this country have become way too uniform and put stipulations on people that are not appropriate in regards to their crime. Someone who is convicted of a crime against an adult should not be considered a threat to children. That's the problem with putting a label like "sex offender" on such a (sadly) large population. It implies that they are all the same. The first thing that I think of when I hear "sex offender", even knowing the plethora of crimes it could be, is child molester. We should stop putting such a vague label on them and call it like it is. A child molester is a child molester, a rapist is a rapist, and an 18 year old who had sex with a 15 year old (sexual misconduct with a minor) is an 18 year old who had sex with a 15 year old. Simple as that. The parole/probation officers of people who have committed crimes against children should monitor in some way that they are not participating in trick or treating on Halloween, but they should not be required to put a sign in the front yard. The fact is, if someone really wants to molest a child, making them put a sign in their front yard or turn their lights off (or live 1000 feet away from a school or park) is not going to stop them from offending. That is simply absurd.

Che sara, sara.