A neighborhood youth sports activities group won’t be allowed to announce on college grounds the winner of a controversial gun raffle, Chairperson Blair Craven stated on the Henderson County Board of Public Schooling assembly on Sept. 12.
East Henderson Youth Soccer and Cheerleading Crew, which isn’t affiliated with Henderson County Public Faculties however makes use of its sports activities services, is raffling an AR-15-like rifle, and the winner was set to be introduced at its Oct. 1 homecoming sport.
HCPS put a cease to that at its most up-to-date college board assembly.
“I am a really proud gun proprietor. I imagine within the second modification, however I additionally imagine there’s a factor known as tact, and I don’t imagine that tact was proven by a company that makes use of our services,” Craven stated.
4 neighborhood members spoke towards the raffle in the course of the college board’s public remark portion, and all expressed fear on the message despatched to college students, dad and mom and lecturers of permitting a company to raffle on public college property a rifle much like the sort utilized in many college shootings across the nation.
“Our neighborhood is impacted by the normalization of those weapons which can be a significant reason behind demise to high school age kids throughout the nation. The least we are able to do is forestall direct publicity and glorification of those weapons to our tender age kids, 5 to 11 years outdated,” Virginia Teagle stated.
Craven stated three years in the past the varsity system forbade the group from raffling off a gun, however as it’s a parent-led group, rapidly altering management might need led to a repeat of the scenario.
HCPS was not consulted about raffle prizes for EHYFC’s fundraiser, and the varsity district doesn’t endorse the raffle, HCPS spokesperson Kimbrell Arrowood stated.
The board directed the superintendent and board legal professional to seek out methods to amend current insurance policies that govern the varsity district’s partnerships with neighborhood organizations to make clear facility use rules.
“I feel it goes past whether or not you’re professional second modification. I imply, I am professional second modification. I personal weapons. It is simply, the quantity of kids which have been misplaced at school violence, it is sickening,” Vice Chairperson Amy Lynn Holt stated.
“Whether or not via intent or accident, the implication to the informal observer is that the soccer and cheerleading actions are linked ultimately to our college district,” Joe Elliot stated throughout public remark. “How can we evaluation the raffle in any context apart from its juxtaposition to our youngsters going again to high school to be often drilled at school assault survival strategies.”
After receiving criticism, EHYFC eliminated the Fb submit concerning the raffle and made a brand new submit on Sept. 1 saying with out fundraising to pay for tools, fields, insurance coverage, referees, different bills, it must elevate charges on members.
In a follow-up Fb submit on Sept. 3, EHYFC thanked supporters and once more promoted the raffle. On the time of reporting, the submit has nearly 300 reactions, 250 feedback and 110 shares.
“If you want to buy raffle tickets on your likelihood to win an American made freedom stick to boost your private home safety system…right here is your likelihood,” the submit stated.
EHYFC declined a request to remark.
