Do you think the world is more dangerous now than it was in, say, the 60's?

Growing up my folks just turned us loose in the neighborhood after about the age of 5. All of the kids in the neighborhood were turned lose. In the summer we came home only if we were hungry or it was raining (or waited the storm out in someone’s garage…or played in the rain if it was warm enough.)

I know I didn’t allow my kids to run too freely when I was raising them in the 80’s. I always knew where they were and who they were with.

Is it more dangerous today, or is that only a mis-perception brought on by the onslaught of never ending media coverage?