A nonprofit group in North Carolina elevating cash for younger athletes and cheerleaders stoked backlash after providing a rifle as a prize in a fundraising raffle.

The raffle held by East Henderson Youth Soccer and Cheerleading League (EHYFCL) in East Flat Rock, North Carolina, obtained criticism from some locals for providing the winner an FN15 Patrol Carbine, in keeping with native ABC affiliate WLOS.

“We aren’t providing an assault rifle; we’re providing an FN15 Patrol Carbine,” a spokesperson for EHYFCL informed Fox Information Digital. “That is an Armalite 15 type rifle, not totally computerized, which by definition excludes it from being categorised as an assault rifle. We’re following all ATF tips; the merchandise is being held at an FFL, the recipient should full an ATF type 4473 and move an NICS background verify earlier than taking possession of it.”

Some critics took difficulty with the prize selection, believing it’s inappropriate for a youngsters’s league. Soccer gamers within the East Henderson league are 5 to 13 years outdated, and members on the cheer group are ages 4 to 13, in keeping with the group.

“I used to be truthfully shocked after I obtained the message that the kids have been going to be promoting an assault rifle due to what’s occurring at colleges across the nation,” an nameless involved mother or father informed WLOS. One other native mother or father who wished to stay nameless mentioned, “I assumed it was in very unhealthy style for them to decide on a weapon that’s getting used in opposition to youngsters.”

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East Flat Rock Park in East Flat Rock, North Carolina
(CREDIT: Google Maps)

The group additionally took flak from customers on Fb, who mentioned the raffle was all the things from “unhappy” and “unhealthy” to “disgusting” and “deplorable.” 

Leaders of EHYFCL additionally replied to the criticism in a Fb put up Thursday, writing “in response to complaints made each publicly and ‘anonymously’ concerning our raffle.”

Explaining that they’re presently taking purposes for an official fundraiser, the group wrote, “When you’ve got a certain option to elevate sufficient cash shortly to get us via the remainder of the season and nonetheless have sufficient to start out up subsequent season, we’d like you to make use of that power in a constructive approach.”

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Explaining that their group is not affiliated with the varsity district or the county, the group mentioned, “The referees aren’t volunteers, the [law enforcement officers] and first responders for the kids’s security aren’t volunteers.”

“Using the sphere, stadium, and amenities will not be free, the misplaced uniforms, mouthpieces, chin straps, ear pads, bows, and socks will not be free,” the group continued. “Gear is just not free, the insurance coverage is just not free, and all the opposite charges the league should pay will not be imaginary.”

“If we’re not elevating sufficient cash, we’re pressured to lift charges,” group leaders added.

EHYFCL informed WLOS they “are presently elevating funds to buy new gear and to have the flexibility to sponsor youngsters in our neighborhood who can’t afford the registration charges.”

The raffle winner have to be not less than 21 years outdated and move a background verify, a league spokesperson additional defined, including that “the AR raffle has taken place three years consecutive and brings in probably the most help we have now ever had.”

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The controversial raffle in Henderson County, North Carolina, comes months after an AR-15 raffle to learn highschool wrestlers at Chase Excessive Faculty in neighboring Rutherford County was suspended amid issues about rising gun violence nationwide.