Editor's Note: Today, one of the stories you're definitely not going to hear in mainstream media. It's the story of what happens when a shooting range takes the fear out of firearms (Hint: it's not something anti-gun groups take with good graces or civil discourse).


Violent Threats Over Scottsdale Gun Club Christmas Photo Shoot

For the fourth year in a row, the Scottsdale Gun Club(www.scottsdalegunclub.com) is providing families with the opportunity to have their picture taken with Santa Claus while surrounded by machine guns. The Santa & His Machine Guns Christmas promotion has become a tradition due to wide acceptance and participation of people from around the world despite dissent that at times comes in the form of violent threats.

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Threats are not exactly in keeping with the Peace on Earth spirit of the season, but some people reveal their true nature when speaking out against guns and gun ownership. While doing so, they also expose a level of hypocrisy and ignorance. Fortunately they are in the minority because most comments received by the SGC have been very positive and have helped turn the promotional event that came into being by accident into a tradition.

One day a customer who was spreading Christmas wishes walked into the Scottsdale Gun Club wearing a Santa suit. The SGC is an upscale retail gun store and shooting range that provides a well lit, clean environment for all to safely and comfortably enjoy the shooting sports and self defense training while learning responsible gun handling. That particular day the store was busy with shoppers looking for that perfect Christmas gift.

When those shoppers saw the jolly fellow, many posed for pictures with him while standing in front of a large wall displaying the various machine guns offered for sale. SGC staff noticed the level of enthusiasm and fun, so decided to sponsor a promotional photo shoot with the real Santa Claus.

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Four years ago, the first year's event was very successful with many people participating. Parents brought their kids including toddlers and infants. Some even showed up with pets in tow. They cheerfully stood in line and paid a small fee for the chance to get their picture taken with Santa surrounded by various machine guns. And many of those photos became Christmas cards that families sent to friends and relatives.

The event was so well received, that an encore was organized for the next year. In short order, radio and television stations learned of the promotion and people from places like Japan, Germany and Denmark found out about the Scottsdale Gun Club's Santa & His Machine Guns photo shoot. People all around the world saw happy families standing next to Santa while surrounded by magazine- and belt-fed machine guns.

Ron Kennedy, the SGC General Manager, told of how he was soon providing interviews about the promotion to local, national and international news outlets including Fox & Friends. Handling loaded questions while deflecting vocal intonations and raised eyebrows, he got the word out and the response from the public was overwhelmingly positive.

People came from all over the world at Christmastime to get their photos taken with Santa and his machine guns. At the peak, over 2,000 people lined up outside the SGC and into the parking lot waiting for as long as two hours for their turn in front of the camera.

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Kennedy explained that the SGC's professional staff took the opportunity to promote gun safety. He related that all firearms used in the promotion were rendered inoperable by removing the firing pins, and firearm safety protocols were adhered to. All participants were instructed in safe handling. Although participants were allowed to hold the firearms during the photo session, the decision to let a child do so was always left to the parents.

Emails and telephone calls began arriving at SGC. "Less than one percent was negative and the rest were very positive and supportive," said Kennedy. But those negative comments included death wishes and threats of violence and destruction. Fortunately, none of the threats were fulfilled, but they were taken seriously and turned over to the police.

The promotion moved one reader from Germany to write, "... keep your guns, death and destruction at home in the good old U.S of A - leave the rest of the world alone to live our lives without american terrorism. There is not much Cristianity left in America". (sic)

Another who claimed to be an official of a small European country wrote, "... the images are undermining diplomatic efforts made to promote business, educational, and cultural exchanges between the State of Arizona and the foreign countries..." Perhaps the writer was unaware of the many guns made in foreign countries that are sold in the US.

Others wrote to offer support including a fan from Michigan. "Saw the Santa story in the Detroit Free Press and think it's great. Keep up the good work and protect our Second Amendment Right."

Another from Canada said, "Your Santa photo's have the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation all up in arms ... the Anti's are trying to make it look all crazy to have a picture with Santa with a Machine Gun. I think what you guys are doing is Awesome, don't stop! If I ever make it to Scottsdale I'll stop in and try out that HK 33. Keep up the good work!"

So Santa is back this year and Mom, Dad and the kids continue to line up for the chance to pose for a photo with the man of good cheer and his machine guns. And this question hangs in the air: Just who are the intolerant, violent ones? Are they the families in the photos or the ones who wish death and destruction on people for posing with Santa and guns?

The next Santa photo shoot is scheduled for December 15.

--Doug Larson

Larson is a gun writer whose bylines have appeared in Harris Publications, InterMedia Outdoors, Guns & Ammo and S.W.A.T.