UPDATE: GAMERS furious over Target and Kmart's decision to remove the R-rated Grand Theft Auto V from their stores have started a petition to ban the Bible.

The petiton, on change.org, has already attracted more than 16,000 signatures since being put up on Thursday.

"It's a book that encourages readers to murder women for entertainment,'' the petition claims.

"The incentive is to commit sexual violence against women, then abuse or kill them to proceed or get 'god' points - and now Target are stocking it and promoting it for your Xmas stocking,'' it states.

"This is The Holy Bible. This book means that after various sex acts, readers are given options to kill women by stoning her unconscious, Setting them on fire, cutting off their hands, and killing their children!

One of many fan passages on In The Holy Bible depicts woman being set alight for having sex

"And the daughter of any priest, if she profane herself by playing the whore, she profaneth her father: she shall be burnt with fire." (Leviticus 21:9).

"Target, you pride yourself on being a family company, caring for local communities, and have a strong ethical sourcing policy. How can you do this while contributing to hostile and callous attitudes toward victims of violence and, more broadly, to all women?

The call for a Bible ban, shared by Australian user Sharky Sharktech, has been followed by a series of other mock-petitions.

They all satirise a petition posted by a group of female survivors of violence that persuaded Australian retailers to remove GTA 5 from their shelves.

The parodies include a call for Target to change its "aggressive logo", a petition to ban knife sales and a demand for a ban on Fifty Shades of Gray.

Another petition attacks Super Mario Bros for promoting "wilful murder of wildlife, consumption of hallucinogenic flora and collection of income without declaration of tax."

Opponents of Grand Theft Auto V say it promotes violence against women.

Kmart refusing to stock Grand Theft Auto Games

AFTER rumours circulated earlier today, Kmart has confirmed that it too is refusing to stock the controversial Grand Theft Auto games.

A Kmart statement did not limit the blacklisting to Grand Theft Auto V, the game currently targeted by a national petition, but would include Grand Theft Auto games generally.

The company has apologised for not realising the content of the game, despite its R18+ rating.

From the statement:

"Following a significant review of all content in Grand Theft Auto Games Kmart has taken the decision to remove this product immediately. "Kmart apologises for not being closer to the content of this game."

Target urged to rethink Grand Theft Auto V sales ban

A PETITION has started to get Target to reverse its decision to remove the R-rated video game Grand Theft Auto V from its stores after complaints about the game's depiction of violence against women.

In a statement Target General Manager Corporate Affairs Jim Cooper said the decision was made following extensive community and customer concern about the game.

"We've been speaking to many customers over recent days about the game, and there is a significant level of concern about the game's content," Mr Cooper said.

"We've also had customer feedback in support of us selling the game, and we respect their perspective on the issue.

"However, we feel the decision to stop selling GTA5 is in line with the majority view of our customers."

Mr Cooper said Target would continue to sell other R-rated DVDs and games.

The decision has prompted another petition on Change.org launched by Brett Herbert urging Target to continue selling the game. On Thursday morning, almost 400 people had signed it and it had reached almost 40,000 people.

"A game made for adults is being taken off the shelves by Target following of a bunch of feminist pigs that made a petition because it apparentply encourages players to cause violence against women,'' the petition says.

"I fear the other retailers will follow this trend, soon this game won't be sold anywhere in Australia.

"The R18+ rating is there for a reason!

"This game may allow you you to kill, hurt, bash and shoot anyone not just females and this game should be on the shelves all over the country. It's made for adults not children, we have the right to buy games despite their content."

"THIS GAME HAS BEEN OUT FOR OVER A YEAR..."

Reader poll Did Target make the right decision? This poll ended on 11 December 2014. Current Results Yes. The game sends an appalling message about women 32% No. The game has an R+ rating. Kids shouldn't buy it 34% No. People should be able to make their own choice 26% Yes. We need to draw the line on some of these games 6% This is not a scientific poll. The results reflect only the opinions of those who chose to participate.

One supporter of the petition wrote the original petition against the game was started by "very misinformed people''.

"They claim the game 'encourages' you to commit sexually violent or generally violent acts against women.

"As someone who has played the game in question extensively (Almost 200 hours), I can confirm that this is a false claim.

"The game NEVER encourages this. They also completely ignore the fact that there's much more violence against men than women, but it's definitely not on a level that should have the video game removed from stores."

READ MORE: Parents petition Target to stop selling Grand Theft Auto V

Why the call to ban Grand Theft Auto V is dumb