The NRA just one-upped Santa — lock, stock and barrel.
The gun rights group delivered Nerf guns to a 4-year-old Illinois boy who burst into tears when a politically correct mall Santa told him he couldn’t have one earlier this month.
“Mean Santa didn’t want to give me a Nerf gun for Christmas,‘’ said little Michael DeCarlo, dressed in Army camouflage, in a video posted on the National Rifle Association’s website over the weekend.
In now-infamous footage that had been put on Facebook and then apparently taken down, Michael had asked the hired Kris Kringle if he could have a gun, to which the Santa replied, “No, no guns.’’
When the child’s mom, Sabella DeCarlo, told Santa from the sidelines at the mall, in the Norridge section of Chicago, “Nerf gun,’’ thinking that would clear up any confusion, the not-so-jolly Mr. Kringle shot back, “Nope, not even a Nerf gun.
“If your dad wants to get it for you, that’s fine, but I can’t bring it to you,’’ the Father Christmas said. “What else would you like? Lots of other toys.’’
The kid looked at his mom and burst into tears.
Outrage over the Santa’s denial of the play gun erupted on social media, the Kris Kringle resigned — and the NRA sent its own guy in red to the family’s home to deliver a batch of Nerf guns to Michael.
The NRA video shows Michael wearing a vest with a “Life NRA member’’ patch and American flag on it, as well as a stash of foam bullets, as he shouts, “Let’s have a Nerf war, Santa!” and he and Kris Kringle fire at each other.
When Michael hits Santa with one of the foam bullets, the Father Christmas falls on the couch as if wounded.
The Santa leaves the home telling the camera, “The North Pole doesn’t need any Commies.’’
Michael’s mom said in the video that supporters from all over sent her son “hundreds’’ of Nerf guns and that he would be doling them out to “other little patriots in need.’’
The boy’s father, Michael DeCarlo, a cop, said he is a “lifelong NRA member” — and “I am proud to say Michael Jr. is now a lifelong member of the National Rifle Association of America.’’