Econintersect: In suburban Raleigh, the Town of Clayton, North Carolina has a front page story in the local paper about great gift ideas from downtown merchants in the village. The ideas include fashion accessories, gift cards, hand-dipped sweets and custom-made jewelry. But it is the first gift idea on the list that caught Econintersect‘s attention. That involves combining jewelry and firearms with the name “More Bang for Your Buck.” The firearm mentioned is an entry level rifle, the Savage Axis XP Package, is pictured below, from the Gander Mtn catalog.
Click on rifle for larger image.
Here is the description of the number one Christmas gift idea in Clayton from the front page of the News-Star:
A gun and jewelry deal. Main Street Jewelers has collaborated with the gun store Trigger Happy to offer a fascinating two-for-one deal, called “More Bang for your Buck.” With a purchase of $2,000 worth or more at Main Street Jewelers, you will be provided with a voucher for a Savage Axis XP Package rifle. The gun is valued at $415. “Both the wife and husband win,” said Nick DeLuca, owner of Trigger Happy Guns and Accessories. They have already sold 8 deals. According to Debra Austermuehle, of Main Street Jewelers “A couple of husbands have said, ‘she’s going to get the gun, too.’” The jeweler said that a couple of men have purchased jewelry for their wives, and then got the gun so that their wives can take a concealed handgun permit class and learn to use it. One man bought an engagement ring as part of the deal, which will run while supplies last.
Econintersect does not see anything wrong with selling what is obviously a low shot capacity target and hunting rifle. However, is five days after a tragedy of the magnitude of Newtown, CT a good time to be featuring a package including a gun on the front page of a community newspaper? Did anyone give it any thought?
Source:
- Top 5 Christmas gifts for sale in downtown Clayton (Amanda James, The Clayton News-Star, 19 December 2012)