Ortt collecting signatures to oppose gun raffle bill
Press Release, State Sen. Robert Ortt
Today, New York State Senator, Rob Ortt (R-North Tonawanda) joined sportsmen and non-profits to oppose Democrat efforts to eliminate charitable organizations’ gun raffles.
Ortt began collecting signatures of individuals and groups opposed to the ban and plans to visit raffles and organizations that will be affected. He will present signatures to the Senate and Assembly sponsors of the bill, whom he has already written to on this issue. He pointed out how important these raffles are for non-profits across the state and blasted the misnomer surrounding the raffles.
“The sponsors of this bill don’t understand two things,” said Ortt. “First, nobody walks into a raffle and leaves with a gun – that’s either willful deceit by individuals who know better or embarrassing ignorance by those who do not. Second, maybe downstate non-profits are overflowing with cash, but Upstate and Western New York charities rely on these types of raffles to support critical operations – from Boy Scouts to sportsmen clubs.”
Ed Pettitt of SAfE and Frank J. Panasuk of The1791 Society noted the amount of misinformation that surrounded games of chance gun raffles.
Ed Pettitt, President of Second Amendment for EVER, Inc (SAfE) in Niagara County said, “Guns won in a raffle are dispensed by a licensed FFL and winners must meet the same requirements necessary for the purchase of a gun including age and passing the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. As such, any law banning gun raffles is purely for the purpose of infringing on the rights of citizens to lawfully acquire firearms in the practice of their rights protected by the Second Amendment. SAfE opposes the proposed ban of gun raffles.”
Frank J. Panasuk, President of The 1791 Society said, “We support Senator Rob Ortt in opposing a proposed law in the New York legislature that would wrongfully ban charitable organizations from holding gun raffles to raise money. Gun raffles are proven revenue generators for charitable organizations. Importantly, gun raffles are covered by the same background checks as sales through a federally licensed firearms dealer (“FFL”). Senate Democrats fraudulent moral panic surrounding gun raffles are disingenuous and nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt at reducing the Second Amendment to a second-class right.”
Assemblyman Mike Norris (R-Lockport) said, “This legislative proposal has only highlighted even further the stark contrast between the downstate liberal agenda and Western New York values. A proposal to ban gun raffles demonstrates not only a lack of understanding but also a lack of effort to even consider the financial impact on local volunteer and charitable organizations outside of New York City. I am proud to stand up for sportsmen, charitable and volunteer organizations and join my colleagues in opposition to this ridiculous proposal.”
