We, the parents and members of the State College community, object to a ban on the sale items that have been deemed "toy weapons," by the board of the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts (CPFA) during the annual Children and Youth Sidewalk Sale. There is no evidence linking violence in our community with the popularity of these items being produced and purchased by the children of our community, and we request that the board rescind the ban. We, as a community, are fully capable of properly educating our children on acceptable behavior through effective parenting, teaching, coaching and mentoring. We believe that our community can make a real difference in the problem of violence in our society much more effectively than though arbitrary legislation of morality and ethical behavior by the eleven individuals that make up the CPFA board.