WASHINGTON -- A gun lobbyist sent Christmas cards to President Reagan, members of Congress and Cabinet officials depicting what critics called a 'new high in low taste' -- a rifle-toting Santa kneeling over a baby Jesus.
John Snyder, chief Washington lobbyist for the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, said the card 'symbolizes what Christmas is all about.'
The front of the card shows a baby Jesus lying in a cradle, and a Santa Claus kneeling over him. Santa is holding a rifle, and has a pistol strapped to his belt. Another rifle is peeking out of his bag of gifts, which is illuminated by the Star of Bethlehem.
Snyder says the verse inside, 'And the word was made flesh...' from the Gospel of John, is about incarnation and the gifts symbolize giving.
Santa Claus is carrying firearms, he explains, 'because 80 million Americans also own firearms. And at this time of year,it's especially important for them to defend themselves against criminals.'
Snyder said the only criticism he heard of the cards sent to the White House and Capitol Hill was from gun-control advocates. But even some of his supporters found the card startling.
'What Santa is looking at is the symbol of peace, and the gun certainly is not a symbol of peace,' said Rep. Roy Dyson, D-Md., a member of the national advisory council of Snyder's group.
'I think it's a new high in low taste,' said gun-control supporter Rep. Robert Torricelli, D-N.J.
Rep. G. William Whitehurst, R-Va., another advocate of strict gun laws said of the card, 'It shows very poor taste and hardly captures the sence of peace on earth, good will toward men.'
This is not the first year Snyder's committee sent out controversial holiday greetings. In the past, the cards depicted Santa leaving a handgun under a tree, or Santa pulling a gun on a burglar who is about to steal gifts from under the tree.
