US photographer under fire for baby holding gun in Christmas scene with toy gun

  • 12/11/2018
US photographer under fire for baby holding gun in Christmas scene with toy gun
Photo credit: Facebook/ Coffee Creek Studio

A photographer from the US has sparked controversy by sharing a picture of a baby holding a miniature gun, in an effort to recreate a scene from the classic holiday film A Christmas Story.

Amy Haehl of Coffee Creek Studio in Indiana was attempting to imitate the scene in the film where nine-year-old Ralphie receives a pink bunny suit rather than his requested BB gun for Christmas, reports Yahoo News.

According to Facebook commenters, the recreation is accurate - but many seem to feel it could have been done without the gun.

US photographer under fire for baby holding gun in Christmas scene with toy gun
Photo credit: Facebook/ Coffee Creek Studio

The photo was uploaded to the company's Facebook page, along with a disclaimer saying that 'The BB gun is made of wood to ensure he did not shoot his eye out during the creation of this photo'.

The image has garnered a wide range of responses on social media, with some saying that it was "the cutest thing I've ever seen" and others complaining that the image was "extremely distasteful". 

One commenter referenced the Sandy Hook Elementary mass shooting, where 20 children and six adults were shot dead, by asking Ms Haehl how she thought the "parents of the babies that were killed in Newtown would feel" looking at it.

Ms Haehl acknowledges the controversy, telling Yahoo News that she was aware that she was "taking the chance that someone would be offended", but she "simply wanted to put a smile on people's faces".

She also clarified that the photo was "in no way meant to encourage gun violence, or offend anyone who has been affected by gun violence".

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