Thinking of buying toy guns as gift for kids this Christmas? Think again.

Msgr. Pedro Quitorio III, media office director of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, exhorted the public Sunday against buying toy guns as Christmas present.

Quitorio said toy guns work against the Christmas message of harmony and peace.

Gifts should be anything that will represent peace and salvation, he said, adding that it is better if parents and godparents will instead give the children something that they can use in school.

Buying of toys as a gift for children is common in the Philippines.

This practice, however, is being discouraged by some sectors, believing the seemingly harmless gesture is indirectly introducing children to violence.