A California gun range has raised eyebrows with a billboard showing Santa Claus posed with an automatic weapon, but the business said the advertisement is all in good fun.
The billboard on California Highway 99 reads: "We build AR's for Santa." It depicts Santa holding a rifle,
according to CBS News.
"And you know, 'tis the season, so we thought it would be a good idea," Steve Dyke, co-owner of Down Range Indoor Training Center in Chico, told CBS News. "Obviously, Santa Claus is synonymous with Christmas. We actually got a kick out of it – thought it would be good and other people would think it was funny."
Some didn't think it was so funny and posted their disapproval on social media.
The Chico gun club was not the first to use Santa Claus in an event this season. In Georgia, the Sandy Springs Gun Club and Range drew attention earlier this month when it held an event Dec. 13 where family members could pose with Santa Claus and their favorite firearm from an AK-47, AR-15 or FN-SCAR-17,
according to WSB-TV.
"It's not trying to send a message," Gun range co-owner Robyn Workman Marzullo told WSB-TV, who added donations from the event would help the Sandy Springs Community Assistance Center.
"It's just about having a good time, getting into the holiday spirit and giving back to the community. Our customers and the people who support us will love to do something different for the holidays." Marzullo added.
The event drew negative comments on the WSB-TV's website, some focusing on the involvement of children and possibly making light of the weapons. The issues of children and guns is a touchy subject in light of the death of Tamir Rice, 12, who had a toy gun when was shot to death in Cleveland on Nov. 22,
noted CNN.
"We're not trying to treat guns like toys," Marzullo told WSB-TV, saying that only people 18 and over were allowed to hold guns for photos with Santa.