Cats aren't even safe in their own yards, yesterday a cat was killed in her own front yard by two roaming dogs. The cat was sleeping in her basket on her front porch, she didn't have a chance to run.

It may have been safe to let cats outside twenty years ago but definitely not now with all these sick and irresponsible people around.
No. The same things were happening 20 years ago. Same risk.

Why not a leash and supervision, or one of those cat fence enclosures? If you must let them out. Our cats never begged to go outside, there was nothing more entertaining outside. Even if they did, its called tough love. A cat doesn't know the risk that some humans or that cars pose, its the human who has to be the responsible adult.