School Officials Defend Gun Raffle
HALIFAX, N.C. (AP) - A private school plans to raffle off guns, provoking criticism that the fund-raiser shows insensitivity to acts of school violence.
John Hardison, headmaster of the Hobgood Academy, said the raffle will go on despite the complaints, adding that the prizes - five hunting rifles and shotguns - reflect the important place hunting occupies in the community's culture and heritage.
The academy, a kindergarten through 12th-grade campus that has operated for 30 years, said it bought the guns from a reputable dealer and will require the winners to undergo background checks and meet other legal requirements.
Money raised through the raffle will support the Future Farmers of America class for high school students.
``We're sorry it's been blown so much out of proportion,'' Hardison said. ``We're certainly not insensitive to the issue of guns and violence in schools. It's just that in our area, we never dreamed it would an issue.''
``We're not saying that adults and supervised juveniles should not have access to guns, but promoting guns at school seems like the wrong issue,'' said Lisa Price, executive director of North Carolinians Against Gun Violence.
Carlos Alvarez, Tucson, AZ, USA, Earth, Sol System, Milky Way Galaxy
http://www.neta.com/~carlos
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