The original article has nothing to do with custodial kidnapping. It has everything to do with thinking children are safe wandering around on their own when non-custodial kidnappings occur right in front of the parents!
How about asking a parent who lost a “free-range” child to a kidnapper and never saw that child again? Ask them what they think of parents who ignore reality. Ask the police officers who have to deal with these cases that turn into nightmares for families.
I wish none of us had to worry about people with evil intentions, but we’re stupid if we don’t take precautions.
Just statistics.
How about asking a parent who lost a “free-range” child to a kidnapper and never saw that child again?
Find me three in the US in the past year.
That is the point. The risk is very low.
So low that you hovering over the child every minute makes the "Chance of being kidnapped" needle just quiver a tiny bit.
On the other hand it does move the "Chance of raising a fearful person who will never grow up" needle a great deal.
There are no solutions, only trade offs. I see my job as to raise brave adults who will go out into the world. You obviously do not see it that way. Hopefully your way works with yours and you do not raise agoraphobic neurotics who cause sorrow for everyone who has the misfortune to encounter them.