A Missouri judge struck down a law requiring sex offenders to post “no candy” signs outside their homes on Halloween after deeming it unconstitutional.
In 2008, Missouri enacted a law stating that sex offenders must remain inside the property away from children on October 31, keep exterior lights off, and post a sign to discourage children from the property while trick-or-treating. .
Any violator who violated the criteria of the law was subject to being charged with a class A misdemeanor, as outlined in the Missouri Statute Revisiter.
But U.S. District Judge John Ross decided Wednesday that sex offenders don’t have to put up those signs starting this Halloween, according to fox 2. He said judges across the state were against enforcing the sign requirement.
The other measures remain in force.
‘No Candy’ Signs No Longer Required for Missouri Sex Offenders on Halloween (File Image)
Candy dealers approached a house on Halloween (file image)
This decision comes after a registered sex offender from Hazelwood, Thomas Sanderson, filed a lawsuit against Attorney General Andrew Bailey claiming his First Amendment rights were being violated.
Sanderson, a Level II offender who was added to the list in 2006, was arrested in 2022 for violating the law. Police said he had a large Halloween display and was handing out candy to children.
In the 2023 lawsuit, he alleged that he and his family had celebrated Halloween festivities every year for the past 22 years, according to First alert 4.
Eager trick-or-treaters searched for candy (file image)
The lawsuit also claims that the “no candy” sign caused Sanderson to make a statement he disagreed with.
Bailey filed a motion to respond to Sanderson’s lawsuit, stating that “the First Amendment does not give sex offenders the right to give candy to children on Halloween.”
Sanderson claimed authorities told him twice that this law did not apply to him because his conviction was before the law was enacted.
A plastic pumpkin full of candy for children on Halloween (file image)
In response to “no candy” signs no longer being required, people have expressed their surprise and confusion online.
One passionate X user wrote: ‘Wow, that’s a bitch. ‘Fuck that judge!’
‘It’s crazy when adults make rules like this, and all the other normal adults don’t grab these adults and throw them in a dungeon somewhere. Instead, we let them stay in power,” chimed in another.