AZ County GOP Gun Raffle Draws Criticism

The Republican Party in the county where a deadly Arizona shooting rampage took place is drawing criticism for its decision to raffle a gun to raise money for get-out-the-vote efforts.

The Pima County Republican Party publicized the raffle in its online newsletter last week, under a headline that read: “Help Pima GOP get out the vote and maybe help yourself to a new Glock.”

Jeff Rogers, chairman of the county’s Democratic Party, called the raffle a “stunning lack of judgment and sensitivity” given that the weapon is the same make used in the Jan. 8 mass shooting in Tucson, the Pima County seat. The shooting spree left six people dead and 13 wounded, including Democratic U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.

The handgun being raffled is a Glock 23. The one used in the Tucson shooting was a Glock 19, the Arizona Daily Star reported.-[source]