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Republican slammed for Christmas portrait of family holding assault rifles days after school shooting

 (@RepThomasMassie)
(@RepThomasMassie)

A Republican Congressman is facing criticism after posting a portrait of his smiling family in front of a Christmas tree holding military grade assault rifles.

Kentucky Representative Thomas Massie posted the bizarre picture under the caption ‘Merry Christmas! ps. Santa, please bring ammo’ days after a school shooting claimed the lives of four pupils.

The politician has been retweeting messages of both anger and support and jovially replying to irate Twitter users.

He replied to one person who wrote the “bar was on the floor, but somehow you managed to tunnel underneath it,” the 50-year-old quipped: “the BAR is under the couch,” referring to a type of military assault rifle.

Fred Guttenburg, father to Parkland School shooting victim Jamie, replied: “Since we are sharing family photos, here are mine.

“One is the last photo that I ever took of Jaime, the other is where she is buried because of the Parkland school shooting. The Michigan school shooter and his family used to take photos like yours as well.”

Right-wing commentator Candace Owens stood up for Rep Massie, posting: “I don’t have the deranged brain of a leftist.

“Can somebody explain to me how they worked out that the Michigan school shooting is @RepThomasMassie’s fault because he shared a picture of him and his family holding legal fire arms? “

Anthony Scaramucci, former President Donald Trump’s communications director, tweeted he would personally fund any candidates running against “this a-shole” Mr Massie in next year’s congressional elections.

It came as Ethan Crumbley, 15, has been charged as an adult with two dozen crimes, including murder, attempted murder and terrorism, for a shooting at Oxford High School in Oakland County.

Four students were killed and seven more people were injured, including a student who remains in critical condition.

Ethan Crumbley and parents pose in jail booking photographs taken at the Oakland County Jail (via REUTERS)
Ethan Crumbley and parents pose in jail booking photographs taken at the Oakland County Jail (via REUTERS)

The semi-automatic gun was purchased legally by Crumbley’s father last week, according to investigators. Ethan’s parents James and Jennifer Crumbley pleaded not guilty to four counts each of involuntary manslaughter. Their bail has been set at $500,000.

Parents in the US are rarely charged in school shootings involving their children, even as most minors get guns from a parent or relative’s house, according to experts.

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