Gun lounge recruits Hillgrove PR for profile drive

Machine Guns Vegas has called in the agency to boost UK arrivals to the US shooting range, which specialises in high-powered weaponry.

Agency boss Richard Hillgrove said the company was specifically targeting 'high rollers who have tried or taken everything'.

But he added that the campaign would stress the company's 'responsible' approach.

The venture, at which visitors are trained by 'gun girls', does not deny accusations that it glamorises weapons, but insists its priority is safety. No alcohol is served on site.

'Young people desensitised to violence thanks to video games and the internet can build respect for weapons by experiencing them for real,' said Hillgrove.

As part of the brief, Hillgrove is working with the company's co-founder, Tim Larkin, to overturn Home Secretary Theresa May's refusal to allow him to enter the UK.

Self-defence instructor Larkin was denied entry to Britain in May amid accusations that he advocates vigilantism.

Hillgrove is understood to be working with former Lib Dem MP Lembit Opik to garner support amongst British MPs and other influential figures to have the exclusion order overturned.

This article was first published on prweek.com