Suicide gun that was passed as tradition to VA House Clerks to be destroyed

[RamboLiberal]

RICHMOND, Va. — A Virginia State Police investigation of House Clerk Bruce Jamerson’s death has found that he shot himself to death with a handgun that had been handed down for decades to successive clerks.

The inquiry confirmed a medical examiner’s ruling that the death was suicide. State Police spokeswoman Corinne Geller said there was no finding of foul play. Now, with the case closed, she said the gun will be destroyed.

Jamerson killed himself along a walking trail beside the James River in Powhatan County on April 24. He was 53 and had been clerk of the House for 20 years.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/state-police-probe-finds-jamerson-killed-himself-with-handgun-handed-down-among-house-clerks/2011/06/08/AGgnezLH_story.html

Wow that's a weird tradition. Read it was a S&W 32 revolver. Anyone know how & when that tradition started?