June 19, 2007 4:30PM 

# Nanny State Crackdown 

By [Tim Lynch](https://www.cato.org/people/tim-lynch) 

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Steve Kelly [pokes fun](http://blog.nola.com/stevekelley/2007/06/15_june_2007.html) at nanny state [legislation](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6751777.stm).

Unfortunately, too many people have a “there ought to be a law” mentality. Sometimes it is silly, but more often it is dangerous. The [Duke University](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/16/AR2007061600130.html) case is a reminder that innocent lives can be adversely affected *even if* the criminal law were limited to violent offenses. Expanding the criminal law is [dangerous business](http://www.catostore.org/index.asp?fa=ProductDetails&method=cats&scid=37&pid=1441188). Better to keep it limited–and keep a good eye on it.

##### Related Tags 

[Constitutional Law](https://www.cato.org/constitutional-law), [Robert A. Levy Center for Constitutional Studies](https://www.cato.org/robert-levy-center-constitutional-studies) 

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