Some time ago, way back in the day, purchasing a firearm was much easier.
About 96 years before the District of Columbia v. Heller ruling dramatically altered the gun-owning landscape in our city, you could walk down to National Sporting Goods Co. at 424 9th St. NW and pick up a 12 gauge Remington automatic (i.e., a serious shotgun) for the bargain price of $27.90 (what a deal!). Not only that, but if you purchased a gun retailing for $37.50 or more, you’d walk away with a free, high-quality gun bag.
Oh, you could also score a revolver for $2.50.
In case you didn’t notice the address, this store was located in the exact spot where the vehicle entrance to the J. Edgar Hoover FBI Building is today. Goes to show how some things change in a century while still staying quite similar…