I live northeast of Atlanta...It is quiet and peaceful in my subdivision and most of the neighbors know each other. However, I still do think it is a good idea for a child to walk to school or stay at home alone at that age. The latch key law in Georgia is 8 years old. However, I don't think my ten year old is mature enough to stay home alone. I believe she will panic. At any rate, I saw two little boys yesterday exiting the park by themselves while my daughters and I were feeding the ducks. I just could not believe that they were left to wonder alone. If I notice them, walking nonchalant and not paying attention to their surrondings with no adult supervision, I am certain a child preadator would. Preadators probably hang out in parks because children are there anyway. This is a scary world. I will be the first to say that I can be paranoid when it comes to my children. However, I am paranoid and we all are ALIVE!!! Thank God!

My sister taught me a couple of things I never see mentioned (we grew up in a small town in MI during the 70's we walked everywhere - even after one of our friends was abducted). The most important thing she taught me was PAY ATTENTION TO THE CARS GOING PAST YOU. If a car passes you for the second time - start looking for a safe house - third time, go there. I was walking with a friend when a car went by the third time. We went to a house with lights on, the door was locked, so I started ringing the bell and shouting
"Mom Mom I lost my key". The lady came to the door (you should have seen her face) and let us in. When we were in we looked out and the two men from the car were walking by on the sidewalk.

It is indeed a very frightful world.  We are lucky enough to be able to drive our kids (current ages 13 & 16) to school.  We would never want them to walk to school or even ride the bus because of the number of sexual offenders in our own neighborhood. 

We have taught our children (7 & 3) that they are not to be out of our sight. We do not and will not let them walk anywhere without us, be in the front yard alone, wander around the store, etc. This is NOT the same world it was 30 years ago! People need to start paying attention and quit pretending. Yes, children should be able to walk a mile to school. Yes, they should be safe in their own yard. Yes, they should be able to go in a public restroom without a parent fearing they will be molested or abducted. BUT that is not the world we live in!! So accept that we live in a fallen world, and let's protect our children from it.