Should Americans Even Fear A Real Life Purge?

It was inevitable after a film like The Purge was released that threats of a real life “Purge” would emerge–that is, the threat of an uninhibited crime spree (Based on the popular horror films The Purge and The Purge: Anarchy). Over the past few weeks, there have been multiple real life “Purge” threats, ranging from places like Louisville, Kentucky, to Kansas City. But do we really have anything to worry about or is this just a simple case of fear mongering?

The whole thing started when a tweet was sent out with a flier on it claiming a “Purge” was imminent. Then, according to Viral Global News, the teen took to Twitter, stating, “Whos trying get a Louisville Purge Started With Me? [sic].” The anonymous teen who made the flier and the original post has since been caught and claimed it was just a joke, according to Red Eye:

“I was sitting in my house and watching ‘The Purge,’ and I thought of the tweet and picture that started it. But didn’t think it’d get that big from there. I didn’t mean any harm by this at all. I love my city.”

The teen has not been charged with any crime. However, despite his confession, poorly photoshopped fliers continue to make the rounds, the latest of which popped up around Cleveland, Ohio. Viral Global News interviewed with a local Cleveland police officer about the situation, only to get a lackadaisical response: “Yep, to be honest there’s something new every year. At the end it’s mostly kids who are trying to incite panic.”

Also under threat of a real life “Purge” this weekend, St. Louis, Kansas City, and Miami received warnings, but the only real semblance we had of a “Purge” came in the form of some graffiti on the garages of Jacksonville, Florida homes. While one woman in particular didn’t take to the piece of vandalism, she wasn’t shaking in her boots over a real life “Purge” either, News 4 Jax reports in an interview with the Jacksonville woman.

“I think it’s children playing. They want to make it a joke, but I don’t see it that way. You vandalized my house. I have to pay for this. Nobody else will. Parents need to take control of their children.”

All in all, things have been quite on the “Purge” front, and it seems unlikely to change over the course of the weekend. One other aspect to consider is that the idea of a “Purge” in film is dependent on local law enforcement officers suspending service altogether, which is something that would have to take place from within the government, not a group of rebellious teens.

With all this in mind, the threat of a real life “Purge,” seems like nothing but a mean-spirited prank.

Thoughts on a real life “Purge” happening in the coming weeks? Leave a comment below!