West Texas car dealer: Buy a truck, get an 'assault rifle'

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Having trouble deciding whether to splurge on a car or a gun? A West Texas car dealership thinks you shouldn't have to choose.

Benny Boyd Automotive Group's dealership in Andrews will throw in a "brand new AR-15 semi-automatic assault rifle, a Ruger deer rifle or a 9 mm handgun" with the purchase of a Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep or Ram truck, a video advertisement posted to the dealership's Facebook page on Thursday.

"Benny Boyd supports our Second Amendment right to bear arms," the dealership's general manager Strate Colbath, donning a white cowboy hat, says into the camera. A giant "Come and Take It" flag is shown flying over the dealership's lot.

Colbath showcases the weapons in the bed of a Ram pickup.

But, that doesn't mean firearms will be sold on the dealership's premises, Colbath said in a phone interview Friday. Customers who purchase a new car from one of those brands will receive a $500 gift card to Gebo's Farm and Ranch Supplies in Andrews, with whom Colbath negotiated the price on the three weapons.

"I don't carry guns here," Colbath said. "That would be irresponsible because there are bad people that buy cars."

Once at Gebo's, buyers will have to complete mandatory state and federal background checks, Colbath said.

Nicole Strong, spokeswoman for the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, said these types of firearms sales are common, sometimes in the form of raffles or vouchers given by a business or other entity to pick up the gun through a federally-licensed firearms dealer.

As of Friday morning, two customers had taken advantage of the deal, Colbath said. The manager said the promotion will run through the entire month of May, but could last longer depending on demand.

"If it comes out to be real good, we'll continue it," Colbath said.

In the meantime, Texans looking to save a buck on guns and ammo could soon have their own holiday during hunting season: the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported Thursday that the Texas Senate approved the "Second Amendment Sales Tax Holiday Act" — authored by state Sen. Brandon Creightno, R-Conroe — to establish a sales tax holiday weekend on guns, ammunition and hunting supplies on the last weekend in August.