Boy Denied Nerf Gun By Santa Given Toy Rifles By NRA

A boy who broke down in tears after Santa refused to give him a Nerf gun has been given loads of toy rifles - by the National Rifle Association (NRA) of America. Watch here:

Video footage Michael DeCarlo Jr. went viral after a trip with his mum to visit Father Christmas at Harlem Irving Plaza mall in Illinois turned sour.

The four-year-old asked for a Nerf gun but Mr Claus turned down his request and told him to ask for something else.

This response prompted floods of tears from Michael and his mum Sabella uploaded footage of the encounter to Facebook, blasting the man playing Santa for letting his 'personal beliefs' diminish her son's experience.

After the video spread rapidly the NRA decided to step in, flying out to Illinois and surprising Michael with 'a pro-gun Santa, an arsenal of Nerf guns, and a custom NRA life member vest'.

NRA

A video shared by the NRA shows Michael ripping open his gifts before declaring a 'Nerf war' against Santa, declaring that 'mean Santa won't be happy' now he has the gun he'd wished for.

Sabella then revealed that the family had received hundreds of Nerf guns from people all over the US, and his dad, also named Michael, thanked the NRA.

Michael Sr. said: "I'm a police officer, NRA instructor, and a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association.

"I gotta tell you, when the NRA reached out to us, we were shocked.

"Fellow patriots, thank you for all that you do to protect our rights, and support us police officers. And NRA, thank you for making my family's Christmas one we will never forget.

"And I'm proud to say Michael Jr. is now a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association of America."

NRA

Predictably though, with a subject as divisive as guns, the response to the video has been mixed.

One person commented: "Amazing, and one of the reasons I have faith in humanity! Love me a good Nerf war with my grandkids!"

Another added: "Beautiful! Thank you to the miserable mall Santa for making this little boy's Christmas the best ever now!! Thank you @NRA. Mall Santa: hope you never work again!"

But a third Twitter user thought it was far from beautiful, commenting: "Creating future school shooters one propaganda video at a time."

Another responded: "There are more toys then only guns. Educational toys, scientific toys, Lego, race cars, outdoor toys. Etc etc.

"This just shows how rotten America really is. That the NRA is doing this. Same as giving the kid play cigarettes sponsored by the tobacco industry."

Topics: US News

Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

@jakesmassey