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A sheriff in Colorado is taking heat after he tweeted a photo of a man dressed as Santa Claus getting a concealed carry permit for a handgun.
The photo, tweeted by the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, shows ‘Santa’ seated at a desk as a staffer fills out paperwork for him to be able to legally carry a firearm. The objective behind the department’s tweet was to promote concealed carry permits, noting that the EPSO has processed tens of thousands of them.
“Guess who came in to receive his Concealed Handgun Permit today?” the sheriff’s office noted in the tweet along with a Santa emoji and the photo.
“Did you know the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office has issued 49,750 Concealed Handgun Permits with another 2,560 waiting to be issued?” the tweet added.
Guess who came in to receive his Concealed Handgun Permit today? 🎅
Did you know the El Paso County Sheriff's Office has issued 49,750 Concealed Handgun Permits with another 2,560 awaiting to be issued?
For more info please visit our website: https://t.co/AbGrPigOUZ pic.twitter.com/ELmffXcfjA
— EPCSheriff (@EPCSheriff) December 3, 2021
The Washington Post reported that several users of the online platform voiced their displeasure with the tweet with some pointing to a recent shooting at a high school in Oxford, Mich., in which a 15-year-old allegedly killed four classmates and wounded a number of others. The suspect, Ethan Crumbley, was charged as an adult last week for murder and terrorism.
“I’m sitting here in downtown Oxford, MI, waiting for the candlelight vigil to start to pay tribute to 4 students who were murdered by a handgun smuggled into the school,” said one user. “But by all means, tell kids Santa carries a concealed weapon.”
I’m sitting here in downtown Oxford, MI, waiting for the candlelight vigil to start to pay tribute to 4 students who were murdered by a handgun smuggled into the school. But by all means, tell kids Santa carries a concealed weapon.
— Joseph Johnson (@jage750) December 3, 2021
“I don’t think the idea of Santa needing a handgun is as uplifting as you think it is,” another person wrote.
I don’t think the idea of Santa needing a handgun is as uplifting as you think it is
— Fritz Kroncke (@FritzKroncke) December 3, 2021
“What is your message to children here?” another added. “Santa has a legally concealed weapon? For protection against elves, reindeer, children who take a peek on Xmas eve? There is enough anxiety among children already.”
Posting this tells me your professional judgment is impaired.
What is your message to children here? Santa has a legally concealed weapon? For protection against elves, reindeer, children who take a peek on Xmas eve? There is enough anxiety among children already. pic.twitter.com/R6jP8IFQt4
— Low Flexibility (@LowFlexibility) December 3, 2021
The department went on to explain its reasoning behind posting the photo.
“EPSO intended to highlight our staff in the Concealed Handgun Permit Office, not to be insensitive,” the EPSO tweeted. “Santa correlates to the month of December and we thought he would help to recognize our hard working staff.”
EPSO intended to highlight our staff in the Concealed Handgun Permit Office, not to be insensitive. Santa correlates to the month of December and we thought he would help to recognize our hard working staff.
— EPCSheriff (@EPCSheriff) December 3, 2021
Jon has over 30 years' worth of reporting experience, as well as an author and U.S. Army veteran. He has a BA in political science from Ashford University and an MA in national security studies/intelligence analysis from American Military University.
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