Sleighing the holidays! Gun-toting Americans proudly show off their beloved firearms at Christmas
Christmas is all about spending time with loved ones, and for pro-gun rights Americans, that means happily posing up with their beloved AR-15s, hunting rifles and handguns by the tree.
Social media sites lit up with photos showing proud gun owners cradling their weapons of choice on Christmas morning.
Some gun-toting Americans turned their passion for firepower into a family affair, taking their high-powered weapons along with their children to meet Santa Claus.
Others staged elaborate family photos at home, with each relative, from grade-schoolers to senior citizens, packing heat while smiling for the camera in living rooms decked out for the holiday.
Those who received guns as presents for the holidays, among them children and teens, took to sites like Instagram and Twitter to boast about their lethal new toys.
According to a new analysis of data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's WONDER database, close to 40,000 people died as a result of guns last year, making it the highest number of gun-related deaths since at least 1979.
Another new study published last week in the New England Journal of Medicine found that in 2016 alone, 15 per cent of all children between one and 19 who were killed by injury in the US died of a gunshot wound.
On a related note, researchers found that 11 of every 100,000 children and teens treated in emergency rooms across the country have gun-related injuries, which amount to about 8,300 kids each year.
Over the course of nine years, 75,000 children and teens were treated for gun injuries at emergency rooms at a cost of nearly $3billion.
Earlier this year, researchers examined FBI data on nearly 250 active shooter incidents in the US since 2000 and found that gunmen armed with semi-automatic rifles wounded and killed twice as many people as those using non-self-loading weapons.
Recent deadly attacks involving semi-automatics include the shootings at a California bar, a Pittsburgh synagogue, Parkland High School and Orlando’s Pulse night club.
Festive firepower: Two proud members of the Scotsdale Gun Club put their love of Christmas and heavy weaponry on full display while posing with Santa Claus
According to a new analysis of data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's WONDER database, close to 40,000 people died as a result of guns last year
Researchers examined FBI data on nearly 250 active shooters incident in the US since 2000 and found that gunmen armed with semi-automatic rifles wounded and killed twice as many people as those using non-self-loading weapons
In this holiday card, a no-nonsense mom brought her assault rifle to meet Kris Kringle, along with her three young children
Weighty gift: Some social media users expressed their delight at having received firearms for Christmas and posed with their new toys by the tree
Double trouble: A pair of gun owners showed off their weapons of choice while posing with St Nick, who wore a smile on his face
For the young at heart: Plenty of senior citizens were overjoyed to have received a gun as a holiday present
This feisty lady sat with St Nick for a holiday photo while clutching an assault-style rifle in her hands
Ladies who load: Young women showed off their guns on social media
Don't mess with them: This family posed for a Christmas photo while armed to the teeth with a variety of weapons, ranging from handguns to assault rifles
Recent deadly attacks involving semi-automatics include the shootings at a California bar, a Pittsburgh synagogue and Parkland High School
Santa found himself surrounded with high-powered firearms and ammo in this festive family snap, with one heavily armed woman sitting on his lap
All in the family: Three blonde siblings each grabbed an assault-style rifle to pose for a Christmas photo
A new study found that in 2016 alone, 15 per cent of all children between one and 19 who were killed by injury in the US died of a gunshot wound
Some gun-toting Americans turned their passion for firepower into a family affair, taking their high-powered weapons along with their children to meet Santa Claus
