A raffle for a high school wrestling team is drawing scrutiny for its prize — a Glock 9mm pistol.
Raffle organizers fielded numerous inquiries from reporters and some criticism Wednesday about the atypical prize. The raffle, organized by a booster club associated with the Pickens High School wrestling team, is set for March 14.
Parents involved in the raffle couldn’t be reached for comment Wednesday. Kim Fitts, co-owner of the gun shop that is offering the Glock being raffled, defended the plans. She noted that the winner must be 21 or older and pass a background check.
Several locals thought it was a bad idea.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea for a high school to be selling chances for a gun,” Sharon Mualkey of Jasper told Channel 2 Action News.
‘I think they should raffle off something different because it does send a bad message to our students,” Diane Roper of Jasper said.
But Fitts, who owns Appalachian Gun & Pawn in Jasper with her husband, said, “It’s going to make more money than raffling a candy bar.”
The weapon sells for $449 at the shop. The gun, she said, is a popular item at the store and added that raffle ticket sales have been “awesome.” The school’s budget for athletics has declined in recent years, Fitts said. Pickens High is located about 60 miles north of downtown Atlanta.
Fitts said firearms have been raffled off by other organizations in the area, and she doesn’t understand all the fuss.
“The people feel like they’re being attacked,” she said.
Pickens County school officials released a statement Wednesday that they have “no supervisory role, control, or authority with regards to the booster club.”
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