LiquidTension
Member
The Tiger Town Observer, a conservative student newspaper at Clemson University, is holding a drawing for an AK-47 semi-automatic rifle from Feb. 27 until March 2. The drawing is being held to celebrate the Second Amendment and to increase gun safety awareness.
The drawing is open to anyone 18 or older with no criminal record. Anyone within the community is welcome to participate.
The AK-47, a Romanian semi-automatic worth up to $300, is first prize along with "The Bias Against Guns" by John Lott, a box of ammunition and four hours of gun training with a professional. Second prize is a .22 Magnum Marlin rifle, a box of ammunition and "The Seven Myths of Gun Control" by Richard Poe.
The National Rifle Association is also assisting The Tiger Town Observer in their drawing.
"They have donated everything from bumper stickers, water bottles, membership applications and gun literature for us to hand out all week," said Andrew Davis, editor of the paper. "They have basically assisted in every way possible."
The drawing for the AK-47 is being handled through the Federal Firearms Licensing system. The .22 Magnum Marlin was donated through an organization at USC Aiken.
Davis also said that while Clemson University did not outright deny to support them, they did make it clear to be careful and follow the rules.
"As with any organization's project, as long as rules are followed we will work with the students," said Robin Denny, director of news services for Clemson.
"There is an educational aspect to this, in the process of registering the event and following the different rules and regulations. They are raising awareness of the Second Amendment, and there are always different opinions, but the university will work with the students as along as state, campus and federal laws are followed," Denny said.
Davis said the Observer has talked to everyone from Clemson University President James Barker to the local chief of police to make sure all rules are followed.
"The biggest obstacle in making this drawing possible was the South Carolina anti-raffle laws. We had to work around that," Davis said.
Davis said The Observer modeled its drawing after a successful raffle at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. That school's conservative political journal, The Orange and Blue Observer, held a similar raffle, which was so successful that they now hold one once a month, despite the protest of a significant number of students and state officials.
"The University of Illinois is a mostly liberal school within a mostly liberal state, yet their raffle was successful despite protestors and state opposition," Davis said.
The Observer is trying to improve its drawing by offering gun safety and instruction as a means to appreciate the Second Amendment.
"The Observer stands strong behind the Second Amendment and hopes the drawing will increase appreciation and at the same time educate people about firearm safety and ownership," Davis said.
Davis said several students are in agreement with the project, but the issue of using a semi-automatic AK-47 as a prize has caught the attention of other students.
"The drawing is a great way to celebrate the Second Amendment while addressing the importance of gun safety and education," said John Halka, a fourth-year packaging science student at Clemson. "I think many people are going to look down on the drawing because of the infamy of the AK-47. Give away an Army-issue M-16 and the response would certainly be different."
The proceeds of the drawing will go toward The Tiger Town Observer, and 20 percent will go toward a charity benefiting freedom in Iran.
Those who register for the drawing will be held responsible for their own actions and knowledge of their eligibility to own a firearm. Denny said it is unlawful for a student of the university to have a firearm on campus.
Ever since the news of the drawing has reached students, The Observer has received no negative feedback.
"People have called and written as to how they can get involved, but officially no one has sent in angry editorials or negative messages," Davis said.
However, the lack of negative feedback at The Observer does not mean all students are in agreement with the issue.
"The Tiger Town Observer is planning this drawing of an AK-47 assault weapon in order to raise funds for the paper's publishing costs, and what better way to earn some spending money than to raffle off a deadly assassinating tool to college kids?" said Aimee McLaughlin, a third-year communication studies student at Clemson. "Bake sales and date auctions are old hat. It seems the best way to make a little cash is to raffle off artillery," she added.
McLaughlin said The Observer's raffle gives Clemson students the message that their right to bear arms is the most important thing on a college campus.
"The Observer's raffle of this deadly assault weapon to college students is an assault to the safety of the Clemson community and an attack on the University's name across the state and the nation," McLaughlin said. "The Observer needs to find a better way to make its money."
Davis said the University of Illinois has raffled off everything from an AK-47 to smaller-caliber handguns.
If successful, The Observer would like to hold a drawing more frequently and perhaps even make it nationwide through the Internet.
"While this drawing is open to everyone in the nearby community now, we would love to see this expand through Internet sales," Davis said.
==================================================
Don't have a link at present, got this in email from a journalist buddy.
The drawing is open to anyone 18 or older with no criminal record. Anyone within the community is welcome to participate.
The AK-47, a Romanian semi-automatic worth up to $300, is first prize along with "The Bias Against Guns" by John Lott, a box of ammunition and four hours of gun training with a professional. Second prize is a .22 Magnum Marlin rifle, a box of ammunition and "The Seven Myths of Gun Control" by Richard Poe.
The National Rifle Association is also assisting The Tiger Town Observer in their drawing.
"They have donated everything from bumper stickers, water bottles, membership applications and gun literature for us to hand out all week," said Andrew Davis, editor of the paper. "They have basically assisted in every way possible."
The drawing for the AK-47 is being handled through the Federal Firearms Licensing system. The .22 Magnum Marlin was donated through an organization at USC Aiken.
Davis also said that while Clemson University did not outright deny to support them, they did make it clear to be careful and follow the rules.
"As with any organization's project, as long as rules are followed we will work with the students," said Robin Denny, director of news services for Clemson.
"There is an educational aspect to this, in the process of registering the event and following the different rules and regulations. They are raising awareness of the Second Amendment, and there are always different opinions, but the university will work with the students as along as state, campus and federal laws are followed," Denny said.
Davis said the Observer has talked to everyone from Clemson University President James Barker to the local chief of police to make sure all rules are followed.
"The biggest obstacle in making this drawing possible was the South Carolina anti-raffle laws. We had to work around that," Davis said.
Davis said The Observer modeled its drawing after a successful raffle at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. That school's conservative political journal, The Orange and Blue Observer, held a similar raffle, which was so successful that they now hold one once a month, despite the protest of a significant number of students and state officials.
"The University of Illinois is a mostly liberal school within a mostly liberal state, yet their raffle was successful despite protestors and state opposition," Davis said.
The Observer is trying to improve its drawing by offering gun safety and instruction as a means to appreciate the Second Amendment.
"The Observer stands strong behind the Second Amendment and hopes the drawing will increase appreciation and at the same time educate people about firearm safety and ownership," Davis said.
Davis said several students are in agreement with the project, but the issue of using a semi-automatic AK-47 as a prize has caught the attention of other students.
"The drawing is a great way to celebrate the Second Amendment while addressing the importance of gun safety and education," said John Halka, a fourth-year packaging science student at Clemson. "I think many people are going to look down on the drawing because of the infamy of the AK-47. Give away an Army-issue M-16 and the response would certainly be different."
The proceeds of the drawing will go toward The Tiger Town Observer, and 20 percent will go toward a charity benefiting freedom in Iran.
Those who register for the drawing will be held responsible for their own actions and knowledge of their eligibility to own a firearm. Denny said it is unlawful for a student of the university to have a firearm on campus.
Ever since the news of the drawing has reached students, The Observer has received no negative feedback.
"People have called and written as to how they can get involved, but officially no one has sent in angry editorials or negative messages," Davis said.
However, the lack of negative feedback at The Observer does not mean all students are in agreement with the issue.
"The Tiger Town Observer is planning this drawing of an AK-47 assault weapon in order to raise funds for the paper's publishing costs, and what better way to earn some spending money than to raffle off a deadly assassinating tool to college kids?" said Aimee McLaughlin, a third-year communication studies student at Clemson. "Bake sales and date auctions are old hat. It seems the best way to make a little cash is to raffle off artillery," she added.
McLaughlin said The Observer's raffle gives Clemson students the message that their right to bear arms is the most important thing on a college campus.
"The Observer's raffle of this deadly assault weapon to college students is an assault to the safety of the Clemson community and an attack on the University's name across the state and the nation," McLaughlin said. "The Observer needs to find a better way to make its money."
Davis said the University of Illinois has raffled off everything from an AK-47 to smaller-caliber handguns.
If successful, The Observer would like to hold a drawing more frequently and perhaps even make it nationwide through the Internet.
"While this drawing is open to everyone in the nearby community now, we would love to see this expand through Internet sales," Davis said.
==================================================
Don't have a link at present, got this in email from a journalist buddy.
