Gun raffles

[af1212]

I remember these raffles were discussed in a previous post but I can’t remember which one. I had no idea such a thing existed and I feel like it is so disgusting. Why would you raffle off something whose only purpose is to kill people?!

www.npr.org/2022/06/03/1102587642/gun-raffles-uvalde-buffalo-mass-shootings

The people who hoped to win the top prize of an AR-15 rifle in a fundraising raffle held by the Rocky Run Fire Co. in the Philadelphia suburb of Media may be disappointed.

In deference to the mass shootings in Uvalde, Texas, and Buffalo, N.Y., where the gunmen wielded AR-15-style rifles, the volunteer fire station — which was also raffling a 9 mm pistol and a shotgun — decided to award the winners the cash value of the prizes instead of the actual weapons.

It was all about optics, says Assistant Fire Chief Mike Johnson. "The timing on this was bad."

Gun raffles have become a popular way to raise money for different causes. But lately, some organizers are rethinking their events, if only for the time being.

[carmenere]

Ugh this is so gross. But there are plenty of people (mostly men) who think of guns as big boy toys to collect. The guy we bought our house from was one of them, he had a huge safe full of guns that he had no practical use for.

There are also plenty of people who will buy a raffle ticket just to be nice/support a good cause regardless of what the prize is because they assume they won’t win anyway.

[curbsideprophet]

This would be a sure way to get me not to donate to your cause.

[tacokick]

The one time I did see this in person was at an apple festival (!) about 40 miles from Baltimore where the Masons were raffling them off. We just turned around and got in our car and left. No interest in being at any event or around people who act like that’s normal. We had never been there before and won’t again. It was so so strange.

[livinitup]

A few years ago, my area finally got non-profits to STOP raffling off puppies as a grand prize at swanky fundraising events. For real, you would attend a black tie event, buy $200 raffle tickets and the “grand prize” was a cute, floppy eared puppy that would be handed to you at the end of the evening.

No.

So many people said it was “cute” and just loved the grand prize photos and thought the organization was doing a good thing to get a puppy adopted?

Except, that is a horrible way to place dogs for adoption, resulted in failed adoptions, returns, poorly placed, and poorly trained dogs in need of re-homing as older dogs. It was a mess. But people wanted to keep doing it because “so cute!” “It’s for a good cause!”

Guns and puppies - why are people so stupid??

[rubytue]

In my old district, some politician (state level rep) had a fundraising event with a door prize of a gun. Yeah… how to NOT get my vote. But if I am remembering correctly, this was the same guy arrested for drunken boating and poaching crabs, so, you know, elected guy who thinks laws don’t apply to him. Fucker.

[rachers]

There is a jeweler here (AR, I know, no surprise) that gives a shotgun away when you purchase an engagement ring. They usually have huge billboards promoting it.

I haven’t seen one in awhile but it’s always disturbed me.

[RitzyHeifer]

It’s a common fundraiser where I used to live (rural IL) for schools, kids sports, etc. and other things where it very loosely makes sense (like for a Ducks Unlimited event that at least is a hunting and conservation organization) Also common as prizes for things like dirt bike racing or whatnot.

Common, but still always shocked me to see it.

[estrellita]

I've never been to one but they happen a ton here. Usually they seem to be hunting related, but not always. I don't really understand them. Meat raffles are also a huge thing here, which is also a weird concept to me. My hometown and where I live now are two different worlds.

[af1212]

I am pretty anti-gun but I can sort of (if I squint hard enough) see why you could do this for hunting rifles in some places.

But why would you ever ever raffle off an assault rifle?!

[tripleshot]

I’m in NE Ohio and our local youth football/cheerleaders group is raffling off an AR15. It’s disgusting and I’m outraged. They posted it just 2 days after Uvalde.

[wawa]

Jun 3, 2022 8:25:40 GMT -5 rubytue said:

In my old district, some politician (state level rep) had a fundraising event with a door prize of a gun. Yeah… how to NOT get my vote. But if I am remembering correctly, this was the same guy arrested for drunken boating and poaching crabs, so, you know, elected guy who thinks laws don’t apply to him. Fucker.

The one who wrecked his boat? It was called "the legislator" and was 100% a male compensation machine. We'd see it around some of the same anchor hangouts we go to.

Loser.

[maddiepaddy]

My local Police Officer’s Association is running a gun raffle fundraiser right now. Public outcry seems to have gotten them to stop adverting it on social media. But as of now, the actual raffle is still happening. They’re digging their heels in, as you’d expect. This org proves to be trash whenever they’re given the opportunity. Like WTAF.

This is in a blue city in a red state.

[rubytue]

Jun 3, 2022 16:42:29 GMT -5 wawa said:

Jun 3, 2022 8:25:40 GMT -5 rubytue said:

In my old district, some politician (state level rep) had a fundraising event with a door prize of a gun. Yeah… how to NOT get my vote. But if I am remembering correctly, this was the same guy arrested for drunken boating and poaching crabs, so, you know, elected guy who thinks laws don’t apply to him. Fucker.

The one who wrecked his boat? It was called "the legislator" and was 100% a male compensation machine. We'd see it around some of the same anchor hangouts we go to.

Loser.

Yes. We are thinking of the same drunken asshole. I can’t guarantee he was the same one with a gun give away. But like 90% sure. It was after he had served time and was kicked out of the state house, but he was trying to get back in. And I have a memory of being so disgusted that he was trying to run again and *giving away guns.* And I know both things happened (1- days him being a shit and 2 - someone giving away guns at a campaign event). Just there is a small chance I’m mis-connecting 2 assholes. 

[bronxgirl]

Jun 3, 2022 15:36:27 GMT -5 tripleshot said:

I’m in NE Ohio and our local youth football/cheerleaders group is raffling off an AR15. It’s disgusting and I’m outraged. They posted it just 2 days after Uvalde.

. This blows my mind because I grew up in NE Ohio in an area that was ( still is) solidly anti gun. Are you in Ashtabula or someplace like that?

[tripleshot]

Jun 3, 2022 20:45:46 GMT -5 bronxgirl said:

Jun 3, 2022 15:36:27 GMT -5 tripleshot said:

I’m in NE Ohio and our local youth football/cheerleaders group is raffling off an AR15. It’s disgusting and I’m outraged. They posted it just 2 days after Uvalde.

. This blows my mind because I grew up in NE Ohio in an area that was ( still is) solidly anti gun. Are you in Ashtabula or someplace like that?

Poof

[terpsfan]

Jun 3, 2022 16:42:29 GMT -5 wawa said:

Jun 3, 2022 8:25:40 GMT -5 rubytue said:

In my old district, some politician (state level rep) had a fundraising event with a door prize of a gun. Yeah… how to NOT get my vote. But if I am remembering correctly, this was the same guy arrested for drunken boating and poaching crabs, so, you know, elected guy who thinks laws don’t apply to him. Fucker.

The one who wrecked his boat? It was called "the legislator" and was 100% a male compensation machine. We'd see it around some of the same anchor hangouts we go to.

Loser.

Is this the same one that got in trouble for providing alcohol to minors at a house party at Dewey or something?

[morecoffeeplease]

@@@@@@@@

We moved to a very red area from Washington D.C. The culture shock has been intense. Coffee shops raffle guns here. Candidates market themselves as "the maga candidate". I think when I lived in DC during the 2016 election I was so SHOCKED that Trump won. I couldn't believe it. And now living in this area during the 2020 election I was SHOCKED Biden won because I'm surrounded by red. People here love their guns. Our local fb page was sad about the Texas school shooting but their response was 100% to arm teachers. It's a different world in deep red areas.

[msmerymac]

I know it’s common with hunting rifles in rural areas, but Media is a pretty trendy suburb of Philly. And AR-15s are not for hunting. So yeah, it raises questions.

[sent]

Jun 4, 2022 8:40:12 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

I know it’s common with hunting rifles in rural areas, but Media is a pretty trendy suburb of Philly. And AR-15s are not for hunting. So yeah, it raises questions.

What little I know about Media being between Philadelphia and Wilmington, it is not where I’d expect a gun raffle like this.

[definitelyO]

my rural home town did it as a fundraiser for the Middle school. OMFG

[somersault72]

Jun 3, 2022 15:36:27 GMT -5 tripleshot said:

I’m in NE Ohio and our local youth football/cheerleaders group is raffling off an AR15. It’s disgusting and I’m outraged. They posted it just 2 days after Uvalde.

SW Ohio and that's exactly who has gun raffles in our area. When the small minority of people that realize how fucked up that is said something they were met with "but the person doing it is a minister---he's SUCH a great guy!!!11!!" He actually IS a decent guy (does a lot in the area to help feed hungry kiddos), but that doesn't mean it's not fucked up.