A CHILDREN’S picture book that aims to show kids the benefit of having parents who openly carry handguns has caused outrage in the US.

The Michigan-based authors say My Parents Open Carry provides “a wholesome children’s book that reflects the views of the majority of the American people, ie that self-defence is a basic natural right and that firearms provide the most efficient means for that defence”.

The book was written by Brian Jeffs and Nathan Nephew, the two co-founders of the pro-gun group Michigan Open Carry, who say the story will help parents who carry a gun and sometimes struggle with how to best explain the reasons to their children.

For the first time in my 25 years in the biz, a children's book leaves me speechless. pic.twitter.com/yrs3MQEH8g — Elizabeth Law (@ElawReads) August 2, 2014

OMG, "My Parents Open Carry," actually exists -- http://t.co/Sxzm3ftAjU -- I thought @billmaher was kidding. — Nikki Schwab (@NikkiSchwab) August 2, 2014

The story depicts a day in the life of the Strong family “as they spend a typical Saturday running errands and having fun together”.

The book’s synopsis reads: “What’s not so typical is that Brenna’s parents lawfully open carry handguns for self-defense. The Strongs join a growing number of families that are standing up for their 2nd Amendment rights by open carrying and bringing gun ownership out of the closet and into the mainstream.”

An extract from the children's book "My Parents Open Carry" @ephemeragrrl pic.twitter.com/0nVbuk0xEO — Nissemus (@Nissemus) August 2, 2014

Jeffs and Nephews said they decided to write the book because they “looked for pro-gun children’s books and couldn’t find any.”

The independent news website Raw Story reported that Nephew told Armed American Radio that “most kids aren’t scared of a gun … that’s another good point this book tries to make.”

On the My Parents Open Carry website, the authors describe the book as something that “will be treasured for years to come and will be passed down to new family members”.

IF IT WASN'T SO SCARY IT WOULD BE FUNNY | ‘My Parents Open Carry’ kid’s book: life of ‘typical’ gun nut family http://t.co/pzlbmaa1vm — Sarah Clements (@sfclem) August 2, 2014

‘My Parents Open Carry’ is a Children’s Book That Shows What is Like to Live in a Family of Gun Nuts http://t.co/w0hQj5alIV — AddictingInfo.Org (@AddInfoOrg) August 4, 2014

The authors also thank their sponsors, the National Take Your Daughter to the Range Day.

The website is also offering buyers a free copy of the “fun” book Raising Boys Feminists Will Hate! by Doug Giles.

Critics of My Parents Open Carry slammed the book on Twitter, with many expressing shock that it was real and not a spoof.