The Cheekiness Of The Perpetrators Is Troubling Indeed

It’s an interesting theory but I’m not sure I accept the basic premise that mooning is a sort of criminal gateway leading eventually to sexual assault:

A spike in criminal incidents in Astoria, ranging from gropings to smashed car windows to attempted rape, has led three elected officials representing the neighborhood to introduce legislation to prevent crime in the area.

“We’re here to say … we’re going to do whatever in our power to make sure that it’s stopped,” state Sen. Michael Gianaris (D-Astoria) said last week.

. . .

“If we don’t put a stop to it now, things are going to get worse and worse,” the senator said. “Today’s groper, today’s mooner can be tomorrow’s rapist.”

. . .

Democratic District Leader Costa Costantinides said the uptick in crime “has been deeply troubling.”

“When you have students running down 23rd Avenue mooning shop owners, that’s serious,” he said.