Toys are practically synonymous with the holiday season.

Toy drives, toy commercials, toy lists and even songs about toys fill our lives this time of year. In keeping with the holiday spirit, I want to make sure Sex in the Suburbs readers have some important information about sex toys.

As recently as 2006, there were six states in our nation that had made the display or sale of sex toys illegal. At least three of these states still have statutes on the books making it against the law to sell or distribute sex toys. In two of those states, it is not illegal to own or use the toys — just don’t get caught selling or distributing them.

For example, if you live in Indiana or Virginia, I suppose you’ll have to go online to look for out-of-state access to Dr. Laura Berman’s recommendations. Dr. Berman is a sex therapist and vocal proponent of women using vibrators as a part of healthy sexuality.

Interestingly, there are only seven states that currently ban assault weapons. None of the states overlap. To put it all together for you, there are states in our country where it is legal to sell semi-automatic assault weapons, but not vibrators. For your information, Washington state does not ban either device.

Many of you may have moral reasons for agreeing with the banning of the sale of sex toys. You, of course, are free not to stimulate the, uh, economy by purchasing them — or even frequenting businesses that sell them. I’m just wondering: Are you also morally outraged that 43 states, ours included, do not have a ban on the sale of semi-automatic assault weapons like the one used to murder Seattle police officer Timothy Brenton just a few weeks ago?

While sex toys can be shocking, they are rarely life-threatening. Our government has spent billions of tax dollars teaching youth to keep sex out of every relationship but marriage. Yet 43 states still allow the sale and use of weapons on which every major national law enforcement agency supports a ban (www.bradycampaign.com. Is it really more important for our government to promote virginity than to save lives?

During this holiday season, you get to vote with your dollars. It’s your choice whether you include educational books and toys as part of your gift giving, or include Dr. Berman’s recommendations on your wish list. Whether you choose to embrace, limit or ban toy or real weapons in your home is up to you. But when it comes to moral outrage, American currency is better spent on opposing semi-automatic assault weapons than making sex toys illegal. I think Mrs. Santa would agree.