Dustin Barnes

Clarion Ledger

While many were focused on this week's presidential debate, Kemper County's board of supervisors was tackling a real issue: clowns.

Specifically, the board made it illegal for clowns to appear in public until the day after Halloween, as reported by the Kemper County Messenger.

County officials deemed the recent clown-scares sweeping the nation as justification for dashing the dreams of residents who already purchased their evil clown garb and were counting down the days until they could freak their friends out.

2014 STORY: Creepy clown lurks in town

Kemper County Sheriff James Moore was quoted in the article as saying the national epidemic of clowns had "gotten out of hand." When asked how people would react if they spotted a clown in their yard, he said, "It wouldn't be good."

Those who dare to put on a clown costume, mask or makeup are subject to a fine up to $150 if caught by the local sheriff's office.

But is it constitutional? Constitutional attorney Matt Steffey called the law "troublesome" and possibly unconstitutional.

"Costumes are considered freedom of expression which is protected by the first amendment," Steffey said.

A stronger case for constitutionality for the county would be to target and tie specific conduct to the law that addresses public safety such as menacing, Steffey said.

Perhaps the county's law could be the way to deal with people dressed as clowns in public — usually at night — causing the masses to run to their phones and dial 911.

If so, it would be fitting to have happened in Mississippi, since we (probably) started the creepy clown phenomenon in 2014 and therefore are responsible for providing a solution to the rest of the nation.

THIS HAPPENED TOO: Tchula police chief to clown: Stop it!

(Seriously, check out the gallery of this bucketful of nightmares.)

Contact Dustin Barnes at dbarnes2@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook.