ANDERSON, Alabama - Why did Jonathan Berryhill, a candidate for Alabama Senate District 1, use a photo of his wife and five of his six children holding guns for a campaign mailer?

Because it shows what the Berryhills are really like, he said.

"That's who I am and that's who the Berryhills are," the Republican candidate said in a phone interview after the photo was posted on his campaign Facebook page this morning.

Berryhill, 37, of Anderson in Lauderdale County, is a former infantry sergeant and former police officer. He is now a farmer and loves to hunt and fish, he said.

Berryhill also spent six months working with the Alabama Department of Conservation, which he said encourages teaching gun safety to youth.

"We're outdoors people," Berryhill said. "My wife and kids love the outdoors."

He emphasized the family's guns are kept locked in a safe and safety around guns is taught to the children early.

In the photo, Jonathan and his wife Hannah are standing with the children, including Millie, 2; Adam, 4; Noah, 6; Micah, 9; Levi, 12; and Mable, 14.

The two oldest are holding rifles, while the next two are holding pellet guns in the photo, Berryhill said. The youngest, Millie, is holding a cap gun.

"The two little ones wanted to hold a gun but they know they aren't allowed yet," he said. That's why 4-year-old Adam has his hands behind his back, Beryhill said: "He wanted to hold his brother's gun."

Berryhill said, so far, he isn't hearing much negative response to the mailer. "The reaction we're getting is about 99 percent positive," he said.