Normally a fundraiser for a Boys and Girls Club is well-received. But one in Florence is firing up controversy, as the grand prize for a raffle is a 9mm handgun. KLCC’s Brian Bull reports.
The Boys and Girls Club of Western Lane County event is Saturday night, with a lip-sync contest and food…all to help support youth programs. So some residents – like Greg Anderson of Florence – are incredulous that a gun is being raffled.
“It seems like a crazy thing to do, to auction off weapons for the benefit of children who are being slaughtered at school by these very weapons,” says Anderson.
The Boys and Girls Club director did not return a request for comment. But Pastor Bob Barrett of the Yachats Community Presbyterian Church says he’s been in touch, and says this is the last time a gun will be raffled.
“They have told their organizer for the fundraiser that they will not participate in that any longer, and so I applaud them for that," Barrett tells KLCC.
"And I really am looking forward to working with them, and have talked about the possibility of doing a fundraiser here in Yachats for them to make up for any lost monies.”
The Florence raffle will continue as planned. Barrett says organizers claim they have no legal basis to cancel it.
Copyright 2018, KLCC.
