University of Virginia Library

Money is Made

But it seems there is money to
be made in the gun market, not
only in raffles, but by direct sale.
The same staff member was eating
in a local, expensive restaurant with
her uncle, husband, and her uncle's
wife. The conversation was concerned
with the previous incident,
and the word gun was mentioned.

At that, a young man dressed in
sacks and a shirt approached her
uncle and asked if he was interested
in buying a gun, adding "I have a
whole room-full."

The uncle, a conservatively dress
man near sixty, responded with
"yes, I am thinking of killing my
wife."

"What kind of gun do you
want?"

"I was thinking about a thirty-eight."

"I have a Smith & Wesson" the
young salesman offered. It is
interesting to note how the salesman
could tailor his wares to their
function. A Smith & Wesson is a
police gun, and is of little use to a
hunter or even for target practice.

At this point the party at the
table began to laugh, and the young
man quickly left, probably thinking
"no sale."