W.Va. outlaws Barbie?!?

This law is fully understandable. you must remember that today,polititions must prove to the people that they are doing their jobs,basically,the only way to do this now is to make new laws,whether we need them or not. it's just a matter of the fact,they have run out of laws that make any sence,so they have to pick on stupid laws. If anyone actually thought about it,( I have ) 85% of the laws of both Canada and the United States are nonscence laws,some older than anyone alive and not even useful,and others just nuts. I truthfully beleive that any and all laws should be put to a vote of the people they will effect.

What about the modeling and film industries? I think they have played a greater roll at influencing little girls than Barbie or Mattel could ever dream of doing. If Jeff Eldridge is concerned about anyones intellectual development, he needs to focus more on the quality (or lack thereof) of the education our children are getting. I'm not talking about public schools but rather public education.

Here is how I see it, if they are going to outlaw Barbie, then they need to outlaw the Bratz Dolls, outlaw the Disney Princess Dolls, outlaw action figures, and anything else that the state might deem corruptible to children. My brother and I, and all of our friends were raised on Barbie and action figures, and we turned out just fine, so why are they outlawing Barbie? Come on, I need a good reason here.

he has a point but it is the parent's decision and if they start outlawing toys what is next? the government is getting carried away and they just need to concentrate on fixing what they have broken, especially over the last 8 years.

I am from West Virginia and since they just came out with tattoo barbie i also feel it is too much and support Jeff Eldridge in banning this as i feel it is a bad example to promote tattooing to children!

You are right. Its the parent who has the right to decide. If the parents feel giving a barbie to their girl does not change her attitude, then there is nothing wrong. If they want to ban barbie, they should also ban Miss America beauty contest, ban beauty products like lipsticks etc. Everyone likes beauty. Be it in dolls, toys, clothes, photos, even in people. Imagine what would happen if you were to gift a ugly looking toy/doll to a child on his/her bithday.

What is wrong with people? Barbie is not the one who is causing our girls to want to be skinny. It is all of the models that are parading around in all of their size 0 stuff and looking "perfect". We are not a small society and we should not want our kids to be like that so why is it that we promote that. I played with Barbies and I was a thin person most of my life. It wasn't from lack of trying to gain weight, I just couldn't. Let the people in the government worry about the state of our economy,not the state of the toys my child plays with!

"Jeff Eldridge said such toys influence girls to place too much importance on physical beauty, at the expense of their intellectual and emotional development." And this is his concern, how? If you get rid of Barbie, they'll just turn to the Bratz dolls. If you get rid of all the dolls, they'll turn to Lindsey Lohan, Hannah Montana, and whatever other teenage girl is popular among the kids these days. I feel sorry for the West Virginia citizens whose tax dollars are being wasted by idiots who want to dictate what toys their kids can play with. What a bunch of nosy buzzkills. That's the parent's decision, not theirs. I hope the bill fails unanimously.

I think this is idiotic - I havedaughters and grandaughters and we had lost of Barbies and believe me not one of my family rates their size by Barbie - is this just one more step towards government dictatorship.

I actually have a lot to say about this. First. Taking it from your point, there is no doubt on earth that it should be up to the parents whether or not they play with Barbie. I have met parents who's children never played with Barbie. I had several Barbies. But either way, it should definitely be up to the parents and not to the government. They have no right deciding what is acceptable and what isn't. Second. I understand all the arguments against Barbie, but I am not sure that this is the real problem. Sure Barbie is too skinny, her boobs are too big, and she has legs like many of us wish we could grow, but she isn't the only thing out there telling girls they need to place a lot on physical beauty. In fact, the media is far worse then Barbie and her looks. The media stresses beauty, thinness, and certain characteristics are the key to success for young women. Third. While it is up to the parents to decide what toys their kids play with it is also up to them to try and combat false images. It is the parents job to make sure their daughters know they are beautiful just the way they are!

This is completely ridiculous! I never idolized Barbie and neither did my girls. I guess the Bratz dolls will have to go, too. Can't have little girls trying to grow very large eyes and huge lips now, can we? I agree with everyone else who feels that the government needs to stay out of this. Eldridge needs to receive some emails, don't cha think? I'm in the mood. Here's his info if anyone's interested in weighing in on this. Capitol Address: Room 212E, Building 1 State Capitol Complex Charleston, WV 25305 Capitol Phone: (304) 340-3174 Business Phone: NA E-mail: jeffeldridge96@yahoo.com

That is just crazy I mean i do not have any girls but i would let them play with barbie, but explain to them that it is a doll and made to look perfect and that not everyone can or should look like that, if they are going to be banning them they should ban all the magzines that tell people how to dress, eat, and how they should be 0lbs

I first heard about this last night and I'm shocked. When is the state and federal government decision to let us know how we raise our kids (not a parent here yet.)? I also had Barbies to play with when I was younger. In fact. I still have my Barbies, that way when I have a little girl, she can play with them also. I wasn't concerned by the way Barbie look when I was younger. She was just a doll to play with. I would love to send an email to Jeff Eldridge to let him know how I really feel about banning the sale of Barbie and other toys like her. I'm sorry, but that is wrong.

i agry with u. my sister loves here barbie dolls. she likes them they cant tell her that she cant play with them they have no right. but i think its pretty wak. but i no its not ganna go threw. lol.

Personally for me, this does seem a little crazy for sure. I agree that it should be a Parents right to choose on this one. I owned a Barbie when I was younger, and I still even collect some of them from time to time myself just to look at in my collection. I would hate to see them quit making these just because of some Lawmaker. But if they did outlaw it in West Virginia, parents would go elsewhere and still buy these for their kids.

And the left wing agenda continues. They just love to tell us how to raise our children, what toys they can play with, and what TV shows they can watch. I can see absolutely no constitutional justification for what this moron is doing. I'm quite sure that it's not legal and is completely unenforceable.

So where does this go? What happens if it succeeds and people begin buying barbies out of state? Are we going to see a "barbie confiscation" effort? Will you be prossecuted for illegal possesion of this dangerous and subversive item? Will this eventually be expanded to include other dangerous toys like GI Joe? Tell ya what, if this passes, I'm going to open up a roadside barbie stand just over the state line.

Well that is just silly. Exactly taking them off the shelf at this point just makes no sense. Let parents pick the toys for their children and if you don't like that toy DON'T BUY IT for yours! Common sense. As it has been for years. I guess some people just have to make a big deal out of something to get their name in the paper!! Sad.

If you don't want your children to have Barbies, simply don't purchase them. Problem solved. If you want your child to grow up loving him/herself, then tell them so every chance you get. Don't wait for Barbie to provide a role model - do it yourself. Since when did the government provide role models for anyone?

He may have a good point but it is NOT the governments responsibility to ban stuff like that. It simply runs against free market principles!