AR police department cancels AR-15 raffle after controversy

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Forrest City Police Department called off a raffle fundraiser just hours after it began due to controversy regarding the big prize.

The police department said on Wednesday that they were partnering with neighboring business, EZ Pawn shop, to raffle off a brand-new AR-15 rifle.

The gun would have come equipped with a light, laser, and an EO Tech scope, and ticket sales would benefit East Arkansas youth services, according to a since-deleted Facebook post.

“If I was giving away a motorbike, somebody would say ‘Why would you give away a motorbike?’ If I was giving away a lawn mower, somebody would say ‘Why are you giving away a lawn mower?'” said Forrest City Police Chief Ronald Broussard.

Those wanting to purchase a raffle ticket had to be of legal age and able to legally own a weapon in the state of Arkansas. But, police Chief Broussard decided to call off the event following some controversy over the nature of the prize.

“Raffling off an AR, if it falls in the right hands, I’m for it. Firearms in the right hands, for it. For protection, family, and especially collectors, as long as it doesn’t end up in the wrong hands, I’m for it,” said a community member.

“It’s good for the raffle, it’s good for the community, it’s good to raise money. But it’s not kosher with all the gun violence we have going on,” another community member said.

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The irony of the situation, though, according to St. Francis County Juvenile Intake Officer Sadie Blackwell, this money would help create positive resources for kids in the area, in turn reducing crime.

“I don’t think it’s more so they’re putting a gun out there to let it get in anybody’s hands, no. This is a way that we can make sure that they’re getting out of the juvenile hands,” said Blackwell.

When asked, Chief Blackwell said there are other ways to earn money, and that is how they plan to move forward in the future.

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