A North Carolina youth football and cheerleading nonprofit league is stirring controversy after vowing to continue their raffle off an AR-style rifle – which they refer to as a ‘freedom stick’ – in order to raise money to allow poor children to participate in the program.
The East Henderson Youth Football and Cheerleading League, located in East Flat Rock, N.C., which coaches 5-12-year-old boys and girls, is currently selling $5 tickets – or 5 for $20 – for a chance to win an FN-15 Patrol Carbine rifle. The organization updated their Facebook page advertising the fundraiser, calling the gun a ‘freedom stick.’
The East Henderson Youth Football and Cheerleading League promised to continue raffling off an assault-style rifle to raise money for its program
The East Henderson Youth Cheerleading squad practices in East Flat Rock Park, North Carolina
The drawing will be live-streamed on October 1, 2022 during the midget game half-time.
News of the give-away caused an uproar with some local parents who considered it in poor taste after the mass shooting at a middle school in Uvalde, Texas by a man who killed 21 people, including 19 children. The shooter used an AR-15 rifle.
‘I was honestly shocked when I received the message that the children were going to be selling an assault rifle because of what’s going on at schools around the country,’ an anonymous concerned parent told local news station WLOS.
Another parent, who also did not want to be identified, agreed.
‘I thought it was in very bad taste for them to choose a weapon that is being used against children,’ the parent told the station.
But on Friday the youth league doubled down on their effort, saying that they were open to alternative ideas, but their goal was to help less fortunate children enjoy a healthy activity.
The East Henderson Youth Cheerleading squad seen here on the sidelines is raising money using an AR-style rifle like the one used in the Uvalde middle school shooting
The East Henderson Youth Football and Cheerleading League raffled off another assault rifle in 2021
‘If you have a sure way to raise enough money quickly to get us through the rest of the season and still have enough to start up next season, we need you to use that energy in a positive way,’ the league posted on their Facebook page.
In 2021, the East Henderson Youth Football and Cheerleading League raffled off this AR-15
East Henderson Youth Football and Cheerleading League officials said that the raffle prize of an AR-style rifle was necessary to raise money for kids
This organization doesn’t run on air and water….The referees aren’t volunteers, the [law enforcement officers] and first responders for the children’s safety aren’t volunteers, the use of the field, stadium, and facilities are not free, the lost uniforms, mouthpieces, chin straps, ear pads, bows, and socks are not free, equipment is not free, the insurance is not free, and all the other fees the league must pay are not imaginary.’
A league spokesperson told WLOS that they ‘are currently raising funds to purchase new equipment and to have the ability to sponsor children in our community who cannot afford the registration fees.’
The organization emphasized on Facebook that they offer a ‘place to get away from whatever home situation they may face for at least 2 hrs a day, a place to remove them from video games, a place to be loved, a place to be praised, a place to be themselves, a place to be normal, a place to belong to something bigger than themselves, a place to learn manners, respect, leadership, and teamwork.’
The group auctioned off a similar weapon last year with less publicity.
The winner must be over 18 years of age and pass a background check to receive the prize, they said.
The Chase High School wrestling team in Forest City, NC was forced to suspend their gun raffle after a backlash
Chase High School’s wrestling team was selling $20 tickets for an AR-15 to raise money
‘[The] winner must pass all federal requirements to purchase and own a freedom stick,’ the group posted to Facebook.
Opposition to the fundraiser tapped into one of America’s main culture war issues – gun control – and Second Amendment advocates have rallied around the effort, promising to bring more money for the league this year.
‘Can I purchase online and from Texas?’ Facebook commenter Julea Ann wrote on the group’s page.
‘Don’t let the WOKE LEFT buzzards get you down,’ Robin Lea wrote. ‘A lady asked how this is legal Ha. bc this is America…freedoms my granddad fought for. I’m sure those yelling the loudest are okay with the 1A. I’m buying Stay strong.’
It’s not unusual for youth sports groups to raffle off high-powered weaponry to raise money.
In 2020, the New Richmond Junior Lions Football and Cheer Program in Ohio sold tickets for the chance to win an AM-15, according to local station WXIX. They raised $4000 for new equipment, the league’s president Robert Wooten told the news channel.
‘It’s an easy sell. It’s a hot item,’ he said.
The Chase High School wrestling team in Forest City, N.C., however, was not so successful when they tried to use the same firepower for their fundraiser.
In June, the organizer suspended the team’s raffle of an AR-15 because of opposition.
‘I wasn’t trying to ruffle anyone’s feather,’ Chris Ramsey told ABCNews 13. ‘My sole intent was to help the kids, help the kids that are part of my program. That’s all we’re trying do here, make an impact on the world through these kids.’