Shop Owner Swaps Offer // Reba Items Can Bring Discount on Gun Purchase
BY Leigh Strope
Feb 1, 1994
A Tulsa pawn shop owner has offered country music star
Reba McEntire some advice: stick to singing.
Tulsa Gun and Pawn owner Buck Dickinson said he is a McEntire
fan, but he's giving a 10 percent discount on guns and firearms
equipment to customers who bring in McEntire compact discs,
cassettes and concert tickets.
The "Trade in Reba" deal at Dickinson's shop, 911 S. Memorial
Dr., is in response to McEntire's offer to trade 100 tickets
to her Feb. 19 Mabee Center show to people who turn in guns
to the Tulsa Police Department.
"I think she's one of the best female entertainers in the
business," Dickinson said. "But I think she ought to stick
to entertaining.
"My thought is that it's a publicity stunt. She hasn't
thought the problem through - we don't have a gun problem.
We have a criminal problem."
Dickinson had only one taker between the time he started
offering the deal on Friday and late Monday. A man brought
in McEntire's "Last One to Know" cassette Monday afternoon.
What will happen to the tape?
"We're going to throw it in the trash," Dickinson said.
"We wouldn't let this stuff get back out on the streets.
And this way we can keep Garth Brooks happy." Brooks has
campaigned against the sale of used compact discs.
Police received 49 guns last week and decided to continue
the program through Friday or until the 100 tickets are
given away. People can bring in operational guns to the
property room at police headquarters from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Cpl. Roger Snodgrass, who was manning the property room
Monday, chuckled when told about the "Trade in Reba" offer.
"It doesn't surprise me," Snodgrass said. "I think this
is all a Reba advertisement, but the main thing is getting
rid of the guns."
The pawn shop's telephone rang nonstop Monday afternoon
as people called to comment on newspaper advertisements
and the sign outside announcing the discount.
One caller wanted to bring in his Twisted Sister heavy metal
albums for the discount. He was turned down.
"The response all has been positive," Dickinson said.
"We've had lots and lots of fun with it. Half my day is
spent preaching about gun laws anyway."
Dickinson conceded the McEntire offer is voluntary - people
choose to turn in their guns. But he said he hopes his discount
deal sends a message that there is another side to the gun
issue.
"Guns on the streets are not the problem. Guns in the hands
of honest people don't cause problems," he said.
McEntire should put her name behind programs that really
can do some good instead of "feel-good laws," he said.
Despite her opinions, Dickinson will remain a fan.
"They've played several of her songs on the radio today,"
he said. "And we haven't turned it off once."
