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TUCSON — An Arizona Wal-Mart Superstore has cancelled a gun raffle after shoppers complained about the combination of guns and kids.
A flyer was in that Wal-Mart until earlier this week, advertising a raffle of three popular hunting guns at $10 a ticket. The flyer said the proceeds would go to the Children's Miracle network, including Tucson Medical Center.
After being contacted by reporters, a Wal-Mart spokesperson said, "Poor judgment was shown in choosing to conduct a raffle and in the selection of the prizes... we apologize to anyone who was offended or upset by either the raffle or the decision to cancel it."
In Utah, a youth hockey team in Uintah County held a fundraising raffle for a Double Star AR-15 .223-caliber semi-automatic rifle. The raffle raised about $5,000. Some community members complained that the team had crossed a line raising money for a children's sport by auctioning off a gun.
Last week, a Washington County school stopped a parent-organized raffle for the Snow Canyon High School Lady Warriors rugby team that was going to offer two guns as prizes. Raffles are not allowed under the district's rules, district officials said.
Charles Heller, a spokesman for the Arizona Citizens Defense League, criticized the raffle's cancellation.
"It shows you the evil of political correctness. And I'll tell you right now, if Wal-Mart doesn't want to do this raffle, the Arizona Citizens Defense League will," Heller said.
However, some shoppers we spoke with outside that Wal-Mart store agree with the cancellation.
"Guns are not an appropriate prize for a children's' fund-raiser," said one woman.
A Wal-Mart employee said about 50 raffle tickets had been sold. The company spokesperson said everyone who bought a ticket will have their money refunded.
