Some Florida parents plan to trick-or-treat while armed over clown concerns

Some Florida residents plan to take some extra precautions when they trick-or-treat with their children on Monday amid reports of creepy clowns scaring communities.

Kimberly Kersey told Florida Today that she plans to carry a gun while taking her sons around her Palm Bay neighborhood after two men were arrested last week for allegedly threatening people while dressed as clowns.

"I'll be carrying for sure, I'm not leaving to chance," she said. "I'm terrified of clowns already and if one messes with me or my kids it'll be to the hospital or morgue they go."

Pam Metz, of Titusville, said she plans to carry around a baseball bat on Halloween because she doesn't have a gun.

Patrols will be increased across the country as it is standard for Halloween and not impacted by the wave of clown sightings. Sheriff Wayne Ivey noted that it's a second-degree misdemeanor to conceal your identity with the intent to intimidate or harass anyone while "being upon any lane, walk, alley, street, road, highway, or other public way."