I know every generation probably says it, but it tends to be a simple truth. Things are not like they used to be.

When I was a kid, my parents would dress us up and turn us loose in the neighborhood. My two-years older sister was usually charged with watching over me, and we usually had a good time trick-or-treating for a couple of hours each year.

Little to no parental supervision by the fourth grade was normal in our community and it was grand. Made us all feel like teens or adults going around asking for free candy... but that's not something that happens in most communities today.

Once again, the internet has made the world smaller and connected everyone to limitless information. Particularly, an interactive map of registered sex offenders in every community in America, but is that fair?

I'm not defending the worst of society, but as my editor and I were talking about this, it just feels a little grimy to talk about it. After all, while all sex offenders have the registration in common, not all sex offenders committed heinous acts of trauma.

In Oklahoma, you can be charged and labeled a sex offender for peeing off your boat while fishing, but that's not what we all imagine when we see those two words strung together. I think most people automatically envision the worst-case scenario without knowing the truth.

Even worse, the tools that were created to inform Oklahomans about their registered neighbors are shockingly vague. You'll learn who is a sex offender, but not always the offense in which they've committed to earn that designation... but my editor insists I write it anyway.

In many states across the country, there are laws against registered sex offenders handing out candy for Halloween, but Oklahoma isn't one of those states. As long as they stay on their own property, it's legal.

Instead of getting into the details, I'd rather leave you with this. I don't have kids in that trick-or-treating age range, but if you'd like to dig for your own piece of mind, here are a few maps of registered offenders in the Lawton community.

Lawton as a whole:

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If you'd like to explore each neighborhood, the map is interactive over at City-Data.com.

Lawton Halloween Costumes

If you're into ironic costumes, here's some that reflect some "great" things about Lawton, Oklahoma.

Have some fall family fun at this Lawton, OK. pumpkin patch

Did you know Lawton, Fort Sill has a real pumpkin patch that you can visit to pick a pumpkin right off the vine? Not only that you can enjoy all kinds of fall family fun like a hay maze, photo areas, corn pits, and more! Heritage Farm & Ranch is located at 26432 State Highway 58 in Lawton, OK. near the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge and across from Lake Lawtonka. It's the perfect place to go for a quick day trip and to pick up some amazing eats, treats, gifts, and some of the best hot sauces, salsas, jellies, and jams. For more information and to plan your visit check them out on Facebook or at the Heritage Farm & Ranch website.

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While Oklahoma is well known for its beauty and friendly people there are a few places in the Sooner State you'll want to avoid. These are the most terrifying towns and scary cities in the state. It's not that they're bad places, or plagued with crime and other negative factors. The towns and cities below have one single thing in common. They all have active paranormal and supernatural phenomenons. From ghost stories to urban legends and tragic tales. A lot of these places are well known to those who live in Oklahoma and even all over the nation. If you're looking to get scared or do a little ghost hunting you can start with the list below.

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