Message to clowns posting social media threats to Connecticut schools: A new law, effect Oct. 1, elevates charges for such threats to a felony.
The bizarre clown phenomenon, with people in several states dressed as clowns scaring schoolchildren, reached Connecticut as police arrested six teenagers this week for posting online threats against two Ansonia schools. Five of six teens were girls, which didn’t surprise Institute of Living child psychologist Laura Saunders.
“I would guess that being a clown is a more passive way to scare someone,” she said during an appearance on FoxCT. “Females might be more prone to take on a passive way to scare someone rather than an active way.”
A 16-year-old was charged with threatening to shoot people at Emmett O’Brien Technical School in Ansonia. Two 13-year-olds were charged with online threats threats targeting Ansonia Middle School using the Instagram user name “ansonia_clown.” Several similar threats have been reported across the state this week.
“We will continue working with social media companies to identify those inappropriately using social media to cause panic,” state police said in a Facebook post.
Some clown incidents appear to have been inspired by a case last month in Greenville, S.C., where residents reported people dressed as clowns attempting to lure children into nearby woods. Saunders recommends parents counsel their children without scaring them.
“Giving them very specific guidelines and suggestions and recommendations is most helpful,” Saunders said, “as opposed to, ‘There are clowns out there. Be careful.'”
If excessive fears or anxiety go beyond clowns, Hartford Hospital’s Institute of Living Anxiety Disorders Center provides assessment and treatment services for children, adolescents and adults.