US club offers gun photos with Santa
Source: Agencies |
December 1, 2011, Thursday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
A GUN club in the US state of Arizona is offering children and their families a chance to pose for photo-graphs with Santa while holding pistols and military rifles.
One image shows Santa in a wingback chair with a snowflake background, a Christmas tree behind him and flanked by a US$80,000 machine gun and a tripod-mounted rifle. Next to Santa is a man with a grenade launcher standing behind a boy.
In another photo, Santa cradles a toddler dressed in camouflage, while a man and woman stand close by with rifles. In yet another image, five beaming young women stand around Santa as they hold modern military rifles.
Ron Kennedy, general manager of the Scottsdale Gun Club, said the idea developed last year when a club member happened to come in dressed as Santa and other members wanted their picture taken while they were holding their guns.
"Our customers have been looking for a fun and safe way to express their holiday spirit and passion for firearms," said Kennedy, noting people have used the photos for Christmas cards and website posts. About 500 people came to the event to take a total of 150 photos when the first of two such events was launched.
Kennedy, whose club offers guns for sale and rent and has a 32-lane indoor shooting range, said the event was not aimed at children but the club supports the right of parents to include their children in the photos.
He said the guns used in the photos are not loaded and have had their firing pins removed.
To buy a semi-automatic rifle in the US, a purchaser must be at least 18 years old and cannot be a convicted felon. The requirements for buyers of fully automatic machine guns include being at least 21, not being a convicted felon and getting a special license from federal firearms agents.
State representative Steve Farley, who proposed an unsuccessful ban on large-capacity gun magazines, said the gun club's photo opportunity was inappropriate. He said: "To involve machine guns and Santa in a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ is the worst kind of heresy I can imagine. I would suggest that the people who created this read some of the New Testament."
Kennedy said the club is simply trying to provide a safe holiday event that is an expression of their passions. He said: "It is more of a celebration of their Second Amendment rights (the US constitution's clause guaranteeing the right to bear arms)."
He said the club will continue holding the events in future if there is a demand from customers.
This is the second year the club has offered its "Santa and Machine Guns" photo opportunities. The club plans another next month.
Club members can get a print and digital photo for US$5, while an image with Santa will cost a nonmember US$10.
One image shows Santa in a wingback chair with a snowflake background, a Christmas tree behind him and flanked by a US$80,000 machine gun and a tripod-mounted rifle. Next to Santa is a man with a grenade launcher standing behind a boy.
In another photo, Santa cradles a toddler dressed in camouflage, while a man and woman stand close by with rifles. In yet another image, five beaming young women stand around Santa as they hold modern military rifles.
Ron Kennedy, general manager of the Scottsdale Gun Club, said the idea developed last year when a club member happened to come in dressed as Santa and other members wanted their picture taken while they were holding their guns.
"Our customers have been looking for a fun and safe way to express their holiday spirit and passion for firearms," said Kennedy, noting people have used the photos for Christmas cards and website posts. About 500 people came to the event to take a total of 150 photos when the first of two such events was launched.
Kennedy, whose club offers guns for sale and rent and has a 32-lane indoor shooting range, said the event was not aimed at children but the club supports the right of parents to include their children in the photos.
He said the guns used in the photos are not loaded and have had their firing pins removed.
To buy a semi-automatic rifle in the US, a purchaser must be at least 18 years old and cannot be a convicted felon. The requirements for buyers of fully automatic machine guns include being at least 21, not being a convicted felon and getting a special license from federal firearms agents.
State representative Steve Farley, who proposed an unsuccessful ban on large-capacity gun magazines, said the gun club's photo opportunity was inappropriate. He said: "To involve machine guns and Santa in a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ is the worst kind of heresy I can imagine. I would suggest that the people who created this read some of the New Testament."
Kennedy said the club is simply trying to provide a safe holiday event that is an expression of their passions. He said: "It is more of a celebration of their Second Amendment rights (the US constitution's clause guaranteeing the right to bear arms)."
He said the club will continue holding the events in future if there is a demand from customers.
This is the second year the club has offered its "Santa and Machine Guns" photo opportunities. The club plans another next month.
Club members can get a print and digital photo for US$5, while an image with Santa will cost a nonmember US$10.
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