Colorado sheriff’s office tweets photo of Santa Claus receiving concealed handgun permit

"Guess who came in to receive his Concealed Handgun Permit today?" the Twitter account asked with an emoji of Santa's face. "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?" The tweet included a link to a web page with more information on how to obtain a concealed handgun permit in the county.

The festive, pro-Second Amendment photo prompted several opposition replies on Twitter. A back-and-forth battle ensued, including comments such as:

"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."

Other social media users noted that the tweet was posted after the mass shooting at Oxford High School killed four Michigan students and injured others.

In response to the outrage on Twitter, the sheriff's office limited replies on the Twitter thread and said: "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."