By GERRY LEE GORIT
Contributor
CITING the safety of children, this city’s legislative body wants to craft an ordinance that will regulate the sale of toy guns in Cagayan de Oro.
Among those who are pushing for the creation of such legislation are councilors Joyleen Mercedes ‘Girlie’ Balaba and Romeo Calizo.
In a recent session of the City Council, Calizo showed his fellow councilors how toy guns are uncannily similar to real firearms.
A new ordinance, said Balaba, must be crafted to address this concern.
The old ordinance was passed in 2010 and since then toy guns have become more realistic and more sophisticated, Balaba said.
Balaba was referring to Ordinance 11716-2010, which prohibits the public display of airsoft guns, air or pellet guns. and water guns.
She said that the 12-year-old ordinance must be implemented but at the same time, another ordinance must be crafted to keep in tune with the times.
The concern for the welfare and well-being of children was what prompted Balaba to support any measure that would regulate the sale of toy guns.
The lady councilor added that parents and business owners must not encourage children to play with toy guns.
For his part, Calizo said the 2010 ordinance must be implemented already as there are reports of people who sustained injuries from playing with toy guns specifically those that use pellets as ammunition.
