Gee, I live in Illinois, and have learned that even if you don’t tell children about the bogey man, he will have to be created.
For my eldest daughter, when she was wee, the bogey man was Hilary Clinton. Her big fear was that Mrs. Clinton would come to our front door to take her away.
Her fictional heroes included Hoss (from Bonanza), Cisco Kid, Granny from the Beverly Hillbillies and the Lone Ranger. Bat Masterson made second string. Not much fear of guns there.
Wasn’t Granny Clampett the best shot in the bunch?