NRA sends Nerf gun to boy mall Santa told ‘no guns’ for Christmas

The National Rifle Association (NRA) delivered a Nerf gun over the weekend to a 4-year-old boy whose exchange with a mall Santa went viral last week when he told the boy he could not have a toy gun for Christmas. 

In a video posted by the boy’s mother on Facebook, 4-year-old Michael DeCarlo told a Santa at an Illinois mall that he wanted a Nerf gun for Christmas.

“No, I … nope. No guns,” the Santa replied. “Not even a Nerf gun. If your dad wants to bring it to you that’s fine, but I can’t bring it to you. What else would you like?” 

The boy eventually started to cry. 

“This was the first year Michael was excited to go see Santa. It was supposed to be magical but instead I had to watch my sweet little boy fight back tears because Santa told him No because of his own personal beliefs,” the boy’s mother wrote in her Facebook post.

The Harlem Irving Plaza Mall eventually responded to the incident by issuing an apology and posting a video to its own social media feeds showing a different Santa Claus delivering a large Nerf gun to the boy’s front door. 

On Sunday, the NRA joined in by posting a video on Twitter showing a Santa arriving at Michael’s house and giving him a Nerf gun, as well as NRA apparel, including an “NRA Life Member” vest. 

“Mall Santa didn’t want to give Michael a Nerf gun for Christmas and made him cry,” the organization wrote in the tweet. “The @NRA made it our mission to fix this and make Michael’s Christmas the best EVER.” 

Mall Santa didn’t want to give Michael a Nerf gun for Christmas and made him cry.

The @NRA made it our mission to fix this and make Michael’s Christmas the best EVER. pic.twitter.com/wpGAzcpqAs

— NRA (@NRA) December 14, 2020

Holding a large Nerf gun, Michael says in the video, “Mean Santa won’t be happy I have this.”

Michael’s parents added later on in the video that they had received “hundreds of Nerf guns” from people across the country, which they say Michael will be sending to “other little patriots in need.”

Michael’s father, Michael DeCarlo III, identified himself as a police officer, NRA instructor and “lifetime member” of the NRA. 

“Fellow patriots, thank you for all that you do to protect our rights, and support us police officers,” the father added. “And NRA, thank you for making my family’s Christmas one we will never forget.”