Gun range promotes, defends ‘Just Divorced’ special

Women who are just divorced can stare at their wedding dress and cry.

Or, the divorcee and her gal pals can have fun shooting up the dress with an M1919 Browning machine gun.

That’s the marketing strategy behind a Valentine’s Day promotion called “Just Divorced” rolled out by Machine Guns Vegas, a firearms tourist attraction in an industrial neighborhood off Spring Mountain Road, a short shuttle ride from the Strip.

“There’s divorce parties all over the Strip. But there’s other ways besides alcohol to put your past behind you,” said Megan Fazio, president of Neon Public Relations, who created the business promotion for Machine Guns Vegas.

“On a day when a lot of people are happy about their relationships, if I was divorced that would be the day I’d want to blow up my wedding dress,” Fazio said.

“I know a lot of people who have been divorced who would do this.”

Actually, the $499 Just Divorced package is designed for both women and men, allowing the uncoupled to shoot any item related to their marriage or wedding with a .30 caliber shot, the largest available at Machine Guns Vegas.

Marriage certificate? Love letter? Engagement party invitation? Leftover wedding cake?

Bring it on.

But Genghis Cohen, owner of Machine Guns Vegas, does draw the line.

No pictures of former spouses allowed for target practice.

“They’re not allowed to shoot a picture. They can do it privately, but if a nut job shoots a husband or wife in the light of day, we don’t want to be involved in a lawsuit,” said Cohen, whose first name is really Genghis and was given that name because his father admired Genghis Khan.

Cohen said the business promotion comes down to statistics, noting that 315 couples tie the knot daily in Las Vegas. If the divorce rate is 50 percent, that’s 157.5 couples that are going to eventually split up and be available to sign up for the Valentine’s Day machine gun special.

“At the end of the day, people are getting divorced,” said Cohen, a native New Zealander who has been divorced once. “When they shoot a gun, there is a release of anger.”

The $499 buys 40 rounds from the M1919, 10 rounds on a black or pink M4 for up to four friends each, free transportation from the Strip and free space in a VIP lounge where you can celebrate with cake, snacks and nonalcoholic beverages.

The M1919 is a popular machine gun used in dozens of movies, from “The War of the Worlds” in 1953 to “Fury” in 2014. It can be mounted on planes, tanks and tripods and has a rate of fire of 400-600 rounds per minute.

The promotion starts Feb. 14 and runs for an unlimited time, Cohen said. The promotion is new, and no one has yet signed up for the Just Divorced special.

They also have a message for those who might be offended by the Just Divorced deal.

“If you’re bothered by it, don’t do it,” Fazio said.

Machine Guns Vegas, which caters mostly to tourists, does not sell guns or ammunition. The facility does host weddings.

“We facilitate all levels of love here,” Cohen said.

Contact reporter Alan Snel at asnel@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5273. Find him on Twitter: @BicycleManSnel