Political freedom is the absence of political restraints, particularly with respect to speech, religious practice, and the press.
nan·ny also nan·nie (nn)
n. pl. nan·nies
A children’s nurse.
state (stt)
n.
1. A condition or mode of being, as with regard to circumstances: a state of confusion.
5. The supreme public power within a sovereign political entity.
You would think that the BATFE or the TFA, or Homeland Security would be in the forefront in the battle in favor of the nanny state. Or maybe it’s the IRS that is working to spell the doom of all our freedoms, one dollar at a time. Some feel that Social Security, or Medicare, Medicaid, food stamps, or other government assistance is bringing about the rise of the nanny state. I personally believe that it is the CPSC that is working to end freedom in America.
To be fair the CSPC has a good track record of finding trouble and forcing recalls of products that are defectiveand may potentially cause injury or death. The key word here is defective. What riles me up is when the CSPC sticks its nose into enforcing recalls and out right bans on objects that function in their prescribed manor but are dangerous when misused. This is the domain of common sense and parental supervision not government intervention.
In 1988 by the CPSC decided that a popular backyard recreational toy was deemed too dangerous for the American public to be allowed to possess. What was this back yard toy that was so dangerous that only an out right ban would make children safe?
Apparently three children were killed by falling lawn darts penetrating their skulls. So, under the concept that one dead child is too many the lawn dart was banned.
If they were consistent with this logic rocks would be outlawed.
This kind of over reaction has got to stop. Lawn Darts are not evil, possession of a lawn dart should not be a crime. I remember when I was going to school we played mumbley peg, not according to the official rules, but we tossed knives into the ground. In fact I seem to remember that it was perfectly acceptable for a person to carry a knife to school, as long as the blade was less than 4″. Now children are being expelled from school for drawing a picture of a gun, or a butter knife inadvertently stuck in a back pack.
When are we as a nation going to stop using prohibition on inanimate objects as a method of controlling behavior? This kind of thinking is killing the very soul of America.
Remember:
Lawn darts don’t kill, people kill.
When Lawn darts are outlawed, only outlaws will have lawn darts.
You can have my lawn dart when you pry it from my cold dead hands.
-pf
Prairie Flounder 
You mean “when they pry it from my cold, dead head.”
What is needed in a simple rule modification, e.g., how does the impaled cranium play?
Is the point scored where the person’s feet were, or where the dart happens to fall depending on which way the “catcher” sprawls out?
If the catcher isn’t dead, does he get a mulligan?
If dead, does he get a “pinch chucker”?
Man, you can tell what people have actually played Jarts and those who have no clue.
The Lawn Darts where not sharpened to a needle point, the “point” resembled roughly the sharpness of the non-writing end of a Bic pen. They typically where not lobbed into a arc of more then 8-12 feet at the apex and one hitting your foot would hurt but would not draw blood. It is unlikely that it would stick into someone unless it was throw with ferocity.
How many kids have been killed by a flying semi-circular hunk of iron (horseshoe) but they have not been banned (yet – I better be careful!) And… that 16 oz cornbag for playing cornhole could easily leave a bruise! Better ban those too!
Kids (as well as others) are killed every year playing baseball, football, swimming, falling out of trees, bee stings,…
There is danger everywhere! Perhaps the drunken idiot on the other end of the Jart should be held accountable or maybe we should ban going outside at all just to be safe.
Here is the list of sports that need to be banned next – many kill more children in a year that Jarts ever killed!
Basketball – In 1998, nearly 200,000 children and adolescents ages five to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for basketball-related injuries. The majority of the injured persons (70 percent) were boys.
Baseball and softball – Nearly 117,000 children and adolescents ages five to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for baseball-related injuries, and nearly 26,000 children and adolescents ages five to 14 were treated for softball-related injuries. Baseball also has the highest fatality rate among sports for children and adolescents ages five to 14, with three to four persons dying from baseball injuries each year.
Bicycling – In 1998, more than 320,000 children and adolescents ages five to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for bicycle-related injuries. In addition, 225 children and adolescents ages 14 and under died in bicycle-related crashes in 1997.
Football – In 1998, more than 159,000 children and adolescents ages five to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for football-related injuries.
Gymnastics – In 1998, nearly 25,500 children and adolescents ages five to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for gymnastics-related injuries. Among girls’ sports, gymnastics has one of the highest injury rates, increasing with the level of competition.
Ice Hockey – According to a study published in the journal Pediatrics, over 18,000 young people under the age of 18 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for ice hockey-related injuries in 2001-2002.
Ice Skating – Nearly 10,600 children ages five to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for ice skating-related injuries.
In-line skating/roller skating – More than 38,000 children ages five to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for roller-skating-related injuries.
Skateboarding – In 1998, more than 27,500 children and adolescents ages five to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for skateboarding-related injuries.
Sledding – In 1998, nearly 8,500 children and adolescents ages five to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for sledding-related injuries.
Snow skiing/snowboarding – More than 29,000 children and adolescents ages five to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for snow skiing-related injuries. Another 9,000 children and adolescents ages five to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for snowboarding-related injuries.
Soccer – In 1998, more than 77,500 children and adolescents ages five to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for soccer-related injuries.
Trampolines – Nearly 80,000 children ages five and under were treated in hospital emergency rooms for trampoline-related injuries.
Thanks for the comment, your preaching to the converted, and your right. Life is hazardous, but I think living wrapped in bubble wrap is worse. It kills some of what makes us human.
-pf