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Elvis' gold gun banned from TV sale


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Elvis Presley
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LONDON, England -- A gold-plated handgun which belonged to Elvis Presley has been banned from sale in a cable TV auction.

The Walther PPK, engraved with the star's motto "TCB" ("Taking Care of Business") was to have been one of the stars lot in the rock'n'roll memorabilia sale on European cable channel Auction-world TV.

But British media regulators have refused to give sale of the gun permission because in the UK advertising guns on TV is forbidden.

The gun was expected to fetch up to £60,000 ($110,000) in Sunday's auction, the UK's Press Association reported.

Elvis was a gun fanatic and reputedly shot TV screens when he was bored.

The Walther PPK was one of several he owned, along with M-16 rifles and machine guns.

A spokeswoman for media regulator Ofcom told PA: "Auction-world TV approached us for clarification of our code relating to guns.

"It is clearly set out that the advertisement of guns or gun clubs is prohibited."

The channel had the gun decommissioned in the U.S. before it was brought over to Britain but was advised it could still not be sold on TV.

Instead it will be sold through the channel's Web site.

Other Elvis items going under the hammer include diamond jewellery, an acoustic guitar, some Smith and Wesson handcuffs and a pair of boxer shorts.

Auction-World says on its Web site that Elvis was fascinated with police work and began collecting badges began in 1956 through his contact with police officers working security detail at his concerts.

But by the late '60s, Elvis's infatuation with law enforcement had increased to his owning an honorary sheriff's badge, guns, a blue light with siren for his car, a black flashlight and nightstick as well as the pair of vintage Smith and Wesson handcuffs.

These, the Web site says, were used on his girlfriends while role playing during sexual escapades in his bedroom.

Next Monday is the 27th anniversary of Elvis's death.


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