Illinois: "Law-enforcement memorial group defends semi-automatic rifle raffle "

[jimpeel]

By the way, guys, if you are sending a check for a ticket you should also include a Self Addressed Stamped Envalope as well. That is $.37, plus the cost of an envelope, more that they will have to fund the memorial.

 

[TheOtherOne]

Just resurrecting this thread. They've responded to the gun control groups and are actually considering the offer of changing the type of gun. Hopefully they'll hold their ground, but it doesn't sound good from the press release:

http://www.qcpolicememorial.com/RaffleInformation.html

The Quad Cities Law Enforcement Officers Memorial is a not for profit organization dedicated to establishing a fitting and honorable memorial to those Quad Cities Area law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. As police officers, we would not do anything that would compromise the safety of law enforcement officers, or the public. As police officers, we can understand both sides of the gun control argument and wish to remain neutral in this debate.

We have had great response to this raffle and foresaw it as a way to raise funds to help establish this memorial. The firearm in question is not illegal in the United States or the State of Illinois. Further, there are current State and Federal laws on the book to ensure that the person who would take possesion of this firearm is a responsible gun owner.

The Committee has spoken and will meet in the near future to discuss the offer made by the Iowan's Against Gun Violence and the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence. This is a decision that must be made by the entire Board. It is further my intent to speak with Mr. Thom Mannard, Director of the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence, and Mr. John Johnson, Director of the Iowan's for the Prevention of Gun Violence, prior to this meeting.

In closing, we would like to state that we sympathize with Mr. Bryan Miller of the Iowan's Against Gun Violence for the loss of his brother who was an FBI agent killed in 1993, as well as all officers killed in the line of duty. The intent of this memorial is to honor these officers, and as such we are extremely disheartened that this controversy is occurring and taking away from our purpose.

 

[jimpeel]

I consider the raffle ticket I received in the mail to be a contractual agreement between me and the QCLEOM organizers. It states clearly on the face of the ticket that the firearm to be given away is an AR-15 Elite Carute - .223 Cal. There is no wording on the face of the ticket that there will be any substitution. If I win this contest, I will push this to the limits.

 

[jimpeel]

Here's the latest

As I am sure you are aware, many non profit organizations struggle to raise funds. We as a group have been successful in raising money to pay for this worthy cause, but unfortunately we are still quite a way from paying for this memorial. Raffles have long been a great way to raise money and we have used them in the past. One of the major obstacles in raffles is finding items that people find attractive enough to pay for an opportunity to win. We were able to obtain this firearm through a local business and felt that it was an item that had potential to help raise a substantial amount of money for this cause, while supporting a local small business.

At the time the raffle began, members of thie committee, who are law enforcement officers, began selling tickets. After reviewing the early ticket sales the overwhelming amount of sales were to other police officers or those closely involved in the criminal justice system such as lawyers and judges. Further, we currently have local law enforcement agencies that allow sworn police officers to carry a personally owned firearm such as this in the performance of their duties. It was our hope that this firearm would be used in that capacity for the protection of the police officer and our community. Since this controversy began, and word has spread throughout the internet, our ticket sales have dramatically increased and our hopes of a local police officer winning the raffle are beginning to fade. Even still, a vast majority of people purchasing tickets out of this area are police officers from other jurisdictions. We have had police officers from New York, Alabama, Florida, Missouri, Mississippi, Arizona, California, Tennessee, Kentucky as well as many other states purchasing tickets.

On Tuesday November 25, 2003 the Executive Board of the Quad Cities Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, along with several surviving family members of officers killed in the line of duty, met on this issue. In the past our meetings have been upbeat and, I feel, a form of healing for these family members. This meeting took on a different atmosphere. At this meeting I could see the pain in the eyes of the surviving family members at the controversy that this fundraiser appears to have caused. One of the family members, nearly in tears, stated her disappointment by stating "You try to do something good, and right, and it get's turned around on you".

Throughout this meeting, both sides of the issue were explored and debated. In the end, the Board decided that they did not want their decision on this raffle to reflect any one opinion of gun control. We further did not want to be used as a sounding board for either side of the issue, we strictly want to continue to forge forward in establishing this memorial. The Board, and surviving family members therefore decided that the raffle, as initially planned, was completely legal and began with good intent so it should continue.

The Board did however express concern for the controversy created over this project and decided that a second raffle, which tickets had already been printed and was scheduled to begin immediately after the conclusion of this first raffle, would not be conducted. The second raffle prize consisted of an identical firearm (a Rock River Arms CAR UTE Elite) which had already been purchased. The Board will make a determination at a later date as to this firearm. I can assure you that when the firearm is distributed, it will be placed into the hands of a law enforcement officer from the Quad Cities Area.

This decision was not an easy one for the Board or family members to make. The Board weighed several issues and concerns; however in the end they came up with what it felt to be an appropriate decision.

In closing I would like to take this opportunity to express my very deepest heartfelt apology to the surviving family members who assisted in this decision. After losing a loved one before their time, and after stressing to them that through this memorial the Quad Cities will not forget their sacrifices, this controversy appears to have caused additional pain on them and for that I am deaply sorry.

K. Gene Karzin
Chairman,
Quad Cities Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.

So with a few tears and doe eyes the antis win again. At least they are adhering to the original raffle contract and not doing a squat-n-pee. If there hadn't been so many tickets sold and the threat (I assume being the impetus for this decision) of a lawsuit for breach of contract, they likely would have done the same with the first raffle.

It does make me wonder if they are not now furiously going through the entries throwing out the out-of-state entries to make sure the antis are appeased with the result of the drawing.

We'll see what happens on February 28; but I won't be at all surprised that the winner will be a Quad Cities local police officer who is far more trustworthy ands responsible with this type of firearm than any of us, here, would be.

 

[CZ 75 BD]

Curious...

about how many chances were sold and the proportion of local LEO to out of state citizens. I bought 2, numbered in the mid 500's, but that is not a certain indicator of the sales volume. Interesting developments.

 

[tcsd1236]

I bought two tickets.

 

[jimpeel]

I bought one #751. If that is the true number of entries, the rifle is worth at least $3,755 to the effort.

 

[jimpeel]

12 days and counting.

 

[CZ 75 BD]

This rifle is

going to be a great birthday present for me!