The Rocky Run Fire Company in Media responded to community pressure and canceled its planned gun raffle – an annual fundraiser.
The raffle charged $10 a ticket, and advertised prizes like a 9mm pistol, a shotgun and an AR-15 rifle. The department started selling tickets to the raffle on May 1, before the Uvalde, Texas school shooting that killed 21 students and teachers.
But after the shooting, the raffle drew criticism from community members who felt it was insensitive. The department decided the raffle was becoming too much of a distraction from its mission.
Instead of giving away the guns the department will give away cash prizes of equivalent value.
