The Powerful Connection Between Teens, Halloween, and Patriotism

The War Against Teens & Halloween

It was Halloween 2018 when Chesapeake, Newport News, Norfolk, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach banned teens ages 13 and up from trick-or-treating. Virginia teens caught breaking the law could face the following consequences:

$25-$100 fines
Up to six months in jail
Up to 30 days in jail & up to $100 in fines for trick-or-treating after 8 p.m.

If the Old Dominion went to such legislative lengths to outlaw teenage trick-or-treating, surely it had good reason. Right? Not really. Harmless malarkey like pumpkin-smashing was one of the issues cited by local municipalities. Foul pumpkin play, Virginia? Come on.

Could Idaho Be Next?

We highly doubt it. Whether they show up for the tricks or the treats, Idaho is cool with your teen trick-or-treating on Halloween. For a lot of adults, kids today are growing up too fast for comfort. If Idaho's big kids, tweens, or full-fledged teenagers want to relive the magic and creativity of early childhood, the Gem State is all for it.

Candy & the Common Wealth

Idahoans know trick-or-treating is as wholesome as milk and cookies. It's as much an American pastime as it is a right of passage. Big or little, there's something exhilarating about the dramatic play conjured by Halloween and the hunt for King-sized candy bars with your friends.

With America divided more than ever before, there's something particularly special about its teenagers watching their communities come together. We should be teaching our teens to seize every opportunity we have to unite, celebrate, and share a common good with their families and neighbors.

For Idahoans age one-to-99, Halloween is more than a mindless candy-grab. It's an opportunity to inspire an invaluable sense of hometown appreciation and American patriotism. It's in no one's best interest to deny our nation's teens the freedom to enjoy Halloween. So just let 'em trick-or-treat, will ya?