A high school booster club in Pickens County has triggered a controversy by trying to raffle off a handgun to raise money for the school’s wrestling team.
The Pickens County School District is distancing itself from the raffle involving Pickens High School in Jasper. The booster club is raffling a Glock 43 9mm gun. Efforts were being made to reach the school and members of the booster club for comment.
“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 some in the area were not as up in arms.
“It’s basically just something they’re coming up with to get a little money,” said Frank Martin of Jasper. “I’m sure it’s not nothing towards the weapons or anything.”
“The ‘Pickens Wrestling Raffle Fundraiser’ referenced on the attached ticket is a fundraiser being conducted by the booster club associated with the Pickens County High School’s Wrestling Team,” the school district said in a statement accompanied by an image of the raffle ticket. “The Pickens County School District is not conducting this fundraiser, and the District has no supervisory role, control, or authority with regards to the booster club.”
Jasper is about an hour and a half north of Atlanta. The high school serves Jasper, Nelson, Talking Rock, and Tate.
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