Oregon Youth Softball Team Will Proceed With AR-15 Raffle

DALLAS, OR — A youth softball team in Oregon is sticking to its guns — literally —and forging head with a planned AR-15 raffle despite questions over the appropriateness of the fundraiser given its proximity to the mass shooting in Florida.

The Lady Dragons Fastpitch team in Dallas, near Salem, addressed what it called "concerns" about the raffle in a Facebook post on Sunday. The team says the organization relies heavily on fundraisers and sponsorships to keep the program affordable for families.

The group also noted the weapon — which has been the weapon of choice for many mass shooters, including killer at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida — is semiautomatic and technically not an assault rifle. The gun was provided by a private donor.

"Funds raised from this raffle will be used to provide equipment, help keep registration fees for families down below average for similar area teams and provide improvements to ball fields/facilities that could benefit the entire community," the post said.

See also: Gun Owner Outraged By Mass Killings Cuts Up His AR-15 (Video)

According to the organization's website, the Lady Dragons Organization offers spring softball for children between 10 and 16 years old. Practices begin in February and the season continues through July.

The program says the raffle began on Jan. 30 — two weeks before the Valentine's Day massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School — and noted it is not affiliated with the Dallas School District.

The program added that players and their families don't have to be involved in the raffle. Indeed, some families have elected not to participate.

But historically, the group says big name items perform well in fundraisers.

"Raffling a high-ticket item, yes, even a firearm, has been done by similar sports organizations with great success," the post said.

The program tells Patch it does not vet each individual ticket sale, but that whoever wins the weapon will have to undergo background checks just as if they bought it.

"While we sympathize with current events and the climate surrounding them, this is a legal, well-regulated raffle, with tickets being sold to willing and able purchasers," the group said.

The drawing is slated for April 4. Tickets are $25 each — there are 400 tickets available — and other door prizes are available too, a flyer said.

The raffle winner does not have to be at the drawing at American Outdoors to win the rifle.

See also: Orange County Dad Fed Up With Thoughts, Prayers Gives Up AR-15

Photo credit: Lady Dragons Fastpitch, used with permission