We have observed in past editorials that support for excessive restrictions on the right to keep and bear arms often comes hand-in-hand with erosion of other vital rights — the right to due process, even freedom of speech and expression.

While not an inherent, God-given right, we were non-plussed recently to learn that our neighbors in the state of New York are now contending with intrusive government inspecting children’s toy guns and, by edict of the state Attorney General, issuing fines if the toys are not sufficiently unrealistic.

According to the website of the state Attorney General’s office, Walmart is expected to pay about $16,000 in fines and fees for selling the disfavored toys.

We suspect that in a state as heavily populated as New York there are more important matters that the state’s prosecutors and courts and their respective staff should be addressing. We suspect there are grieving victims who deserve to see perpetrators brought to justice — not online retailers selling toy guns.

And again, as we have previously editorialized, we are concerned that the philosophical belief that restricting or curtailing the rights of Americans to keep and bear arms in an appropriate role for government, once again, in predicated on a generally contemptuous view of the rights of Americans — in this case, families and parents, toy stores and businesses.

Much of Pennsylvania is blessed to have leadership that respects our constitutional rights — including the Second Amendment. We hope Pennsylvania’s leaders continue to have the good sense not to follow New York down this anti-Second Amendment rabbit hole of harassing toy stores and children.