Florida mom takes down 'Breaking Bad' action figures

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- In the drama Breaking Bad, chemistry teacher turned drug kingpin Walter White avoids death countless times.

But a Fort Myers mom armed with 9,000 signatures was able to take him down. Well, the plastic version of him at least.

Susan Schrijver started a petition on Change.org — a website where people can electronically sign petitions to show support for various causes — to have Toys R Us stores remove action figures portraying characters from the show from its shelves.

"Toys R Us is well-known around the world for their vast selection of toys for children of all ages," the petition reads. "However their decision to sell a Breaking Bad doll, complete with a detachable sack of cash and a bag of meth, alongside children's toys is a dangerous deviation from their family-friendly values."

The company responded Wednesday, saying they would be removing the toys from shelves and online. "Let's just say, the action figures have taken an 'indefinite sabbatical,'" a statement from the New Jersey-based company reads. They did not respond when asked about follow-up questions.

On Oct. 12, Schrijver's petition had 50 signatures. By Wednesday, it had 9,300 signatures, and the story had gone viral. It's been picked up by national news outlets, and Schrijver has made a number of media appearances in the past few days.

Multiple calls to a phone number believed to be Schrijver's went unanswered Wednesday.

Even the show's star, Bryan Cranston, who plays Walter White, responded, on Twitter. "Toys R Us puts Breaking Bad toys on 'indefinite sabbatical,'" his account tweeted Wednesday. "Word on the street is that they were sent to Belize. Nicely played Florida Mom."

Schrijver took to her petition page to celebrate Toys R Us' decision. "Again, thank you all so much for supporting this and making it happen!" a statement by her reads. "Just remember, that if you believe in something, go for it!!! YOU can make it happen!!!!"

The toys from the popular AMC show were nowhere to be seen at a Toys R Us in Fort Myers. Along an aisle with a banner reading "action figures," toys that could be described as "more mature" were on sale. Figures from violent television shows such as The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones and Sons of Anarchy were on display. Characters from violent films Sin City, Alien and Rambo were also available.

An employee at Cool Comics and Games in Cape Coral called the whole ordeal "silly" and Toys R Us' decision to remove the toys "sad."

"If you don't want to buy it, just move past it," Rich Manzo said. The store, which has been around for about 11 years, sells figures from gory zombie drama The Walking Dead, but not Breaking Bad."

And while Manzo said parents bring young children into the store, they are rarely surprised by what they see. "Parents come in, they know what to expect. I've never had them ask 'Why are you selling this?'"

He said parents come in asking to buy The Walking Dead comic books for children as young as six.

Schrijver said Breaking Bad figures being sold next to toys for young children was part of the problem. "While the show may be compelling viewing for adults," her petition reads, "its violent content and celebration of the drug trade make this collection unsuitable to be sold alongside Barbie dolls and Disney characters."

As with many causes like Schrijver's, there was a backlash. Daniel Pickett started a petition to keep the toys on the shelves.

"It is NOT irresponsible to have these in the store," his petition reads. "It is only irresponsible if they sell them to people they are not appropriate for."

As of Wednesday, his petition had more than 4,000 signatures.