Trading Guns on the Streets for Fun Between the Sheets

HUNTSVILLE, Ala.—Sherri Williams grabbed national headlines when she opened America’s first adult store drive-thru after having sued the state of Alabama to overturn its ban on the sale of intimate toys. Now, she is making headlines by trading guns for adult toys. “It’s my contribution to making love, not war, here in Alabama, where guns are legal and adult toys are not,” Williams said of her Pleasures Store “Guns for Toys” event, which is being held Feb. 8-15. A lifetime proponent of gun rights, Williams’ quoted battle cry—“I’ll give you my vibrators when you pry them from my cold, dead hand”—was the focus of the highly publicized 20/20 segment with John Stossel, featuring Williams’ and the ACLU’s battle to overturn the ban on adult toys. Even though Williams is a supporter of the Second Amendment, she's offering a special treat to customers who are willing to lay down their arms. Through Feb. 15, the store will be giving away romance-inspiring gifts equal to the value of any guns offered in trade. Owner and licensed Gun Dealer David Smith of Blue Steel Gun Works will be on site from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily to assess the value and condition of the guns presented. “We’re loading our silver bullets to take aim at the hearts of gun enthusiasts who may rather kiss a woman than their gun on this Valentine’s Day,” Williams said. “Our goal is to take 300 guns off the streets.” The Pleasures one-stop romance shops will be the country’s first adult boutiques to offer a storewide selection of gifts in trade for guns in any condition. In a flaccid economy with Valentine’s Day fast approaching, this program is liberation for many struggling couples. All guns that were used in a crime will be handed over to the authorities; others will be sold at auction on MyPleasureStore.com, with a portion of the proceeds going to benefit the victims of violent crimes through the Alabama Crime Victims’ Compensation Commission (ACVCC.state.al.us). The Pleasure Store, located at 4008 University Drive, Huntsville, Ala., offers 7,000 square feet of retail products; an adjoining Intimacy Clinic with a free sexual health library, book signings, weekly seminars, marriage counseling and workshops; an outdoor lounge for wine and beer drinkers and smokers; and an indoor lounge for private functions and ToyBox Parties. The Pleasures Store also offers free condoms as a community service. Pleasures' sister store in Decatur, Ala., houses an additional 4,000 square feet of romance retail. Williams founded Pleasures in June 1993 to offer Huntsville couples a place to shop comfortably for a wide array of intimate accessories.