The Nanny State comes to Iraq

After almost eight years of U.S. occupation and nation-building in Iraq, pill elements of contemporary Western civilization finally are taking root in this Middle Eastern nation.  The Nanny State has finally arrived in Baghdad.  As noted in a recent story in The New York Times, diagnosis Iraq’s Ministry of Health is pushing for a ban on the sale of toy guns.

In a move reminiscent of the popular holiday movie, A Christmas Story, in which Ralphie’s mother repeatedly voices every mother’s fear that their child will “shoot their eye out” if allowed to possess a BB gun, Iraqi officials are focusing their anti-toy gun effort on air guns that shoot rubber pellets. Such toy guns are among the most popular for Iraqi boys.-[source]