Wikipedia describes the AR – 15 as a “lightweight, intermediate cartridge magazine-fed, air-cooled rifle with a rotating lock bolt, actuated by direct impingement gas operation or long/short stroke piston operation. The prototype AR-15 rifle (Armalite rifle, design 15) was designed by ArmaLite as a selective fire weapon for military purposes. Armalite sold the design to Colt due to financial difficulties. After some modifications, the rifle eventually became the US Army’s M16 rifle.”
A little over a week ago a girl’s softball team in the Willamette OR area decided to raise $6000 by raffling an AR – 15 rifle. The 15 girls are age 14 – 18, are from 3 local high schools (Centennial, Gresham, and Milwaukie) and are raising the funds to represent Oregon in the West Regional Tournament. The tournament is to be held in Lancaster CA starting today, 23 JUL, and running through the 27th.
Of course there has been some controversy regarding having youth raise money by raffling a rifle. The coach for the girl’s softball team, Ron Brown, is also the president of the board of directors of the local Centennial Little League Baseball. Centennial Little League Baseball, which isn’t associated with the softball team, has distanced itself from the situation, with a spokesperson stating, “We are not affiliated with this team in anyway, financially or administratively, and we don’t agree with this raffle.”
Enter Father Jeremy Lucas, rector of Christ Church Episcopal Parish in Lake Oswego OR. Jeremy+ purchased 150 of the raffle tickets at $20 a pop and to the tune of $3000! Having 150 raffle tickets was not any guarantee that Feather Jeremy would win the rifle, but his luck was good the day of the drawing and he has walked away with the prize. These rifles retail for $800 and $1200. But the rector didn’t win the rifle for shooting. Father Lucas intends to destroy the rifle.
Facts for the story were gathered from Wikipedia, Willamette Week and Oregon Public Broadcasting online.
The main image is from the Willamette Week. The photo of Father Jeremy is from the Christ Church Episcopal Parish newsletter.