Michigan Town Bans Clown Costumes From Annual Halloween Celebration To Protect People With Clown Phobias

It appears that city officials in Oak Park, Michigan do not have enough crimes or infrastructure issues to address.  The officials took it upon themselves to outlaw clown halloween costumes because they are just too scary.  The illogic of the measure is only equalled by its futility.  It is precisely the type of measure that characterizes the “nanny state” where officials impose their own whims and will on citizens.  The ban from the Halloween celebration is meant to protect “people [with] phobias and anxiety about clowns.”

The ban was imposed in anticipation of

The city’s public invitation expressly states that “clown costumes are not allowed.”

Laurie Stasiak, the city’s recreation director, told the Oakland County Times that “In the past few years many clown costumes have been given a very scary and evil look.  Many scary and horror movies are centered around these types of characters.  About 3 years [ago] there were national incidents in the news were people were dressing up as clowns and scaring people and in some cases assaulting them.  Many people have phobias and anxiety about clowns.  It’s because of this that we asked people not to dress up as clowns for this community event.”

So how about those people with phobias of vombies?  In my case, I have an intense and demonstrated anxiety over public officials who try to regulate every aspect of human existence.