As an example, there is a highly-rated show on the History channel called "Pawn Stars" about and set in a Las Vegas pawn shop. I had no idea of its existence until I picked this book:
"License to Pawn, Deals, Steals and My Life at the Gold and Silver" by Rick Harrison Hyperion Press 256 pages $23.99
Harrison, in addition to recounting his life, gives bits of information all through the book, some of which might interest you, too. Do you know why pimps cover themselves in bling? If they're arrested, their cash gets confiscated; their jewelry does not. One of his stable takes it to the pawn shop and - viola! bail money.
He calls ormolu clocks (all gold, gilt and glitter) "Death Clocks" because the person that made the clock had to be younger than 35. All of the people who worked with mercury to create the clock were dead by that age. Ormolu clocks start at $15,000.
He rails at current gun laws. If you buy a "regular" gun you have to go through all kinds of paperwork. Anyone, conversely, can waltz into a pawn shop and buy an "antique" gun, pay for it and take it home. Many of these guns are still functional.
Every single transaction at a pawn shop is reported to the Bureau of Homeland Security and the Las Vegas police department on a daily basis. The pawn shop has a 30-day wait to find out if the item they bought is hot or not.
I've made a note to try to see this show; hell I read the book, right? If you're a regular viewer, I'll get there, I'll get there!
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