A conservative, anti-Big Government friend of mine is complaining today about the federal government banning drop-side cribs — an action prompted by the deaths over the last decade of more than 30 infants and toddlers who got their heads stuck in the cribs' movable parts.

It's another "Nanny State" intrusion, my friend declares, parroting a popular mantra of Tea Party types.

Funny, but I've never heard these same people complain about federal regulations having to do with auto safety (i.e. seat belts, air bags, child seats, speed limits).

I've never heard them complain about minimum age requirements for smoking and drinking.

I've never heard them complain about laws that state some buildings must have fire escapes, or smoke detectors, or carbon monoxide detectors.

I've never heard them complain about laws that regulate air pollution.

But a law that might prevent more senseless deaths among infants and toddlers bothers them.

Amazing.