I picked up my grandsons (7 and 8) at school again today.

[MineralMan]

6. The 24-hour news cycle has made parents afraid to do that.

Whenever there is a child abduction for something like that anywhere, it is a major news story everywhere. Despite the extreme rarity of such incidents, statistically, parents believe it happens all the time and that it is highly probable that it would happen to their children.

This isn't true everywhere, of course. In my blue collar neighborhood, kids are everywhere and out doing things without any parental supervision. During the summer months, they ride bikes past my house, some with fishing poles, heading to the small lake about a mile away. Others are running and playing outdoors during any decent weather. Sprinklers on the lawns, ice cream trucks...the whole works. Older kids watch the younger kids, and small groups of kids move around from house to house, into the parks, and on bikes going who knows where.

But, I live in an urban neighborhood in a large city. Both parents are working. Out in the 'burbs, everyone is fearful and worried about something happening to their children. So they get taken to everything, from school to sports practices, etc. No going off fishing without an adult. No nothing away from home without being transported door to door.

All because we see reports of every child who is abducted anywhere, no matter where we live. Fear.