Teaching your kids to submit to state authority the old-fashioned way: with their toys!

As a kid I saved up all my allowance and chore money for weeks to buy the Johnny Seven One-Man Army, a plastic multi-machine gun that fired plastic bullets, grenades, and rockets, and even came with a detachable cap pistol for use when you'd expended the better part of your ammo in backyard war.

I also played with pots and pans in a kitchen set, but that was something I don't think my parents told the neighbors about.

Today, I do all the cooking, and I won't tell you whether or not I own a firearm to protect my castle. The only reason you could possibly need to know is that you want to break in. And then you'll find out.

Do we become what we play with as children? Maybe at least in part.

Now, thanks to Third Party Watch, I know that we have new toys available to socialize our children to the brave new world of what Simon at From the Barrel of a Gun likes to call Submission Arches:

I hate to get Godwinian here, but OperationCheckpoint.com has just come out with a product that would make Kurt Gruber proud. Here’s the product description:

Scan It® is an educational and creative play toy that helps children become acclimated with airport and public spaces security. The device is both a fun toy and an educational tool. It detects metal objects and simulates an X-ray scan via a functioning conveyor belt that glides articles over its metal detector path. When metallic items are present the unit beeps and lights up.

This unique toy/teaching aid provides ample amounts of healthy fun along with education and awareness of the security measures that people face in real life. A fun and educational booklet is also available upon request along with other online resources at OperationCheckpoint.com.

What’s next: Torture for Tots, Premeditated War for Preteens, Family FISA or Gitmo for Girls?

Not in my house.