A Florida jewelry store is running a Christmas deal that provides customers with a free shotgun for making a minimum purchase. Its yearly sale offers a 12-gauge shotgun to shoppers who buy jewelry worth between $450 and $4,000.
Shop owner Jessie Czerok runs Deland's Downtown Goldsmith Jewelry and Engraving. She reported that her shop has already given away around 30 shotguns this holiday season in its "Fire and Ice" special, according to New York Daily News.
The gun has a retail value of about $270. Customers can take home the free gun after they clear a federal background check.
The jewelry shop was established 14 years ago, and started selling firearms during 2012. It has run the holiday gun giveaway special every year since then.
Czerok reported that more women have been shopping in the jewelry store this year. Some women give the gun to their husbands, and others keep it for themselves.
The jewelry shop owner explained that she expected to receive public backlash due to gun ownership becoming a hot button issue. However, the community has provided positive feedback, possibly due to the strict enforcement of the federal background check.
Customer Bill Seabrease told WESH that the promotion allowed him to get his wife new jewelry. Meanwhile, he received a new gun.
Czerok believes that she will give away more pump action shotguns before Christmas Day. She explained that men tend to be late shoppers, so Christmas Eve is always a busy time for the store, according to Global News.
The store plans to offer the same gun promo for Valentine's Day.