"What makes Chappell Hill Bank stand out for Texas gun owners is a large sign in gold letters on the bank’s door.

NOTICE
Lawful Concealed Carry Permitted On These Premises Management recognizes the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution as an unalienable right of all citizens. We therefore support and encourage the carrying of licensed concealed weapons."

Those already outraged by the president's health care legislation now have a new bone of contention -- a scarcely noticed tack-on provision to the law that puts gold coin buyers and sellers under closer government scrutiny.

Here's a head scratcher: as everyone knows from elementary chemistry courses, gold is the most inert metal in the world - it does not rust, nor corrode. Yet this is precisely what Russian commercial precious metal trading company, International Reserve Payment System, discovered on thousands of (allegedly) 999 gold coins "St George" (pictured insert) issued by the Central Russian Bank.

Amid the latest orgy of new regulation from an out-of-control federal government: a requirement that coin dealers file a Form 1099 for each purchase or sale of gold or silver above $600. The new reporting requirement is slated to go into effect January 1, 2012.

In the language of credit cards, “gold” has long been used to describe a certain level of benefits and consumer protections. Many banks issue Gold Visa or MasterCard credit cards, and American Express features a Gold card in its charge-card lineup.
Soon, “gold” will be used to describe a new type of credit card – but in more literal terms. The Gold Bullion credit card promises to be backed up by the value of your own gold bullion coins. Don’t have any? The company marketing the card can buy them for you at market rates.