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Halloween Lockdown Proposed In Boston

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Oct 25, 2008 11:44 am US/Eastern

Halloween Lockdown Proposed In Boston

Reporting
Christina Hager

BOSTON (WBZ) ―

Click to enlarge 1 of 1: Rev. Wall has suggested the city of Boston go on lockdown on Halloween to help keep kids safe.
WBZ

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Recent violence in Boston has one minister warning it's not safe to go out trick-or-treating in the city.

Instead he has come up with an alternative celebration, which will be closely guarded by hundreds of citizens on patrol.

Trick-or-treating isn't what it used to be -- at least not in some neighborhoods.

"I cannot allow my own children to go trick-or-treating because they may not come home, and I think it's that serious," said Rev. Bruce Hall with the Global Ministries Christian Church.

"We've had homicides on Halloween night. Young people are robbed on Halloween night," he added.

Since three children were shot at the Academy Homes complex last weekend, Rev. Bruce Wall is calling for what he calls a Halloween lockdown with hundreds of adult volunteers to line the streets so children can safely walk.

Instead of the traditional trick-or-treating, they'll have controlled indoor events.

The plan sounds extreme to some, and police say it is safe to go trick-or-treating as long as it's done right.

"I think it's a nice American tradition, and I hate to see it interrupted for any reason," said Boston police Capt. Jim Hassom. "I think if you stay with your children, and stay within defined areas."

And only go knocking for treats from people you know.

"What does this say about our times, that kids can't go out trick or treating the way we did growing up?" Christina Hager asked Rev. Wall.

"Well you have children that are being shot," Wall said. "The whole Academy Homes shooting bothers a lot of us. What we're hearing is horrendous."

Not the kind of horrendous we normally associate with our scariest holiday.

Boston police also plan to have extra security out on the streets Halloween night, and they say they would welcome the help from citizens that Rev. Wall is calling for.

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