Should NH ban clown costumes this Halloween season?

Kemper County, Mississippi, recently passed an ordinance banning wearing clown costumes, masks or makeup in public from now until November 1st. Violating the new rule can result in a fine of up to $150.

Local law enforcement officials requested the ban as a public safety measure to help with cracking down on a nation-wide trend of pranksters using ‘creepy clown’ disguises to frighten or intimidate residents.

In a high-profile recent news story, residents of a South Carolina apartment complex claimed an individual dressed as a clown was trying to lure children into the woods. The reports have not been confirmed, but the account seems to have inspired a spate of “spooky clown” appearances across the U.S.

Supporters also argue that the high-profile nature of coverage of the incidents could lead people to overreact and attack individuals innocently donning clown costumes.

However, opponents of the ban argued it was an unnecessary reaction to what is most likely a hoax or nuisance, not criminal intimidation. They also noted that the ban may constitute a violation of free speech rights.