They say diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but in Texas, a rifle may be runner up. A Texas Jewelry store is offering a gift certificate for a shotgun or rifle when couples buy an engagement ring, which presents an opportunity for a “bang for your buck” joke. And this isn’t new, for Thacker Jewelry in Lubbock has been holding their Shotgun Wedding Sale as an annual promotion for three years. Last year, the store sold 35 engagement rings and store owner Joe Thacker anticipates sales will increase this year:
“The idea, of course, is the wordplay and the old shotgun wedding. Not going back to the negative connotation, playing off of that and it’s been a lot of fun. We had a lot of people participate and this year we’ve even gotten into it more.”
LSG Tactical Arms manager Steve Burns, who is working with Thacker Jewelry, said this promotion is only natural for a Texas store:
“It’s something that’s very natural for most Texans. Most guys grew up hunting or at least exposed to hunting if not by their family, but by their friends, or social groups. So it’s something that’s pretty natural for all of us.”
Burns said there has been a little hostility in regards to the promotion, but he said once he explains it to people, they have a good laugh and understand it. And somehow, this isn’t the most bizarre Texas gun-related story out there.