Toy guns discouraged as Christmas gifts

CEBU, Philippines – Talisay City Councilor Danilo Caballero, who is the chairman of the Committee on Public Safety, yesterday discouraged people from giving toy guns to children this Christmas.

This as Caballero passed Resolution No. 2014-45–8 asking Mayor Johnny De los Reyes to strictly implement the ordinance that prohibits the selling and possession of toy guns that appear and look like real guns.

Caballero pointed out that strictly enforcing the ban is aimed at ensuring the safety of the people, especially during Christmas season, to deter the possibility of committing crimes relative to the usage of toy guns.

The City of Talisay prohibits the selling and possession of toy guns through the first SP Ordinance 2003-01. It authorizes police officers, barangay officials and tanods, and teachers inside their educational institutions,  to confiscate toy guns.

"The measure is viable to the City of Talisay as it is considered as child-friendly city that upholds the vision of the Philippine National Strategic Framework Plan for the Development of Children, which is to ensure that children grow in a healthy environment and shall be protected by responsive and enabling government," Caballero said.

According to Caballero, the toy guns are very similar to real guns may also be used by criminals or clever persons in their wicked activities to threaten people. They may likewise cause destruction of private and public properties, particularly street lights.

"To celebrate the Christmas season away from the danger of toy guns and to deter the possibility of using it in committing crimes that usually increase in the month of December, it is ideal to request the  Honorable City Mayor to implement this valuable city law by instructing the authorized apprehending authorities to enforce the first ordinance," the resolution read.