Riverhead gun shop owner raffles off semiautomatic weapon for school volleyball team; district officials won't accept funds
Local gun shop owner Joseph Oliver is raffling off a semiautomatic weapon to raise money for his daughter's varsity high school volleyball team. Oliver says about $450 has been raised so far.
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Parents in Riverhead are reacting to a fundraiser for the girls' Riverhead High School Volleyball team.
They're not questioning the raffle but what's being given away.
"It's a little weird, says Riverhead resident Jim Wiegand. "Guns are not really our thing."
"I don't see anything wrong with it," says resident Vincent Braunskill.
Local gun shop owner Joseph Oliver is raffling off a semiautomatic weapon to raise money for his daughter's varsity high school volleyball team.
"I'm really, really excited. I cannot wait to, like, give the money to them," says Oliver, owner of JJ Armor. "I decided on the PC Carbine, it's a New York compliant rifle."
But Riverhead school officials say they won't accept any of the money raised.
"Under no circumstances would the district ever sanction any event to raise funds for a district sports team or program that involves the offering of firearms or any weapon as a prize," said Riverhead Central School District Superintendent Dr. Robert Hagan in a statement.
"It's not going to some random person off the streets, but they have to have a permit. A pistol permit at that. They have to be over 21," says Oliver.
Oliver says district officials contacted him Monday night asking him to remove photos and references to the district. He says that's not a problem but that he's not going to cancel the fundraiser.
"I'm a local business owner. I'm just supporting my daughter's team," he says.
Oliver says about $450 has been raised so far.
