Bruce Gooden had been an NRA member for as long as he could remember. His belief in our Second Amendment freedoms was always fervent but he had never been very interested in politics. A conservative through and through, Gooden felt that he needed a rallying point to help channel his passion.

Then, two years ago at the NRA Annual Meetings in Louisville, Ky. Gooden happened to catch a speech by Ted Nugent. Having admired Nugent for decades, this barber from Okolona was all-ears.

"Ted really made me think about what kind of [NRA] member I wanted to be," Gooden said. "He said that if he were president of the NRA, he would make a requirement that every member bring two new members in a year. That really struck a chord with me."

Gooden walked away inspired to make a bigger contribution.

Now, when you visit the Okolona Barber Shop, coined the "safest shop in town," you'll get a chance to be a part of Gooden's inspired push to grow the NRA. If one of the shop's conservative crew gives you a cut, you'll get a shot at winning a semi-automatic AK-47 valued at $600. One haircut for a non-NRA member gets you one ticket, one haircut for a current member gets two, and if you agree to join up on site, there's six tickets in it for you.

The shop's mantra of God, guns, guts and "real good haircuts" is working full time with this promotion, as dozens of folks have already entered the contest (which draw a winner Dec. 22). The winner will also have to pass a background check and all other federal requirements.

"I thought, well, I'm going to do a promotion here where I can get some attention," Gooden said. "You know, I want to raise people's awareness about just how important the Second Amendment is because most people just don't realize."

Kentuckians, both bald and otherwise, have stopped to thank Gooden for his promotion, and he has tallied at least 50 new NRA members since he kicked off the giveaway.

"People are taking notice," he said. "It's not often that you can get someone to switch their barber, but now I'm getting customers I've never had."

So, Gooden goes to work every day not only to wield the clippers but to inspire others to get involved.

"Each individual NRA member needs to do something beside just shake their heads," he said. "We need to make the impact that Ted talked about."