A Riverhead gun shop’s plan to hold a rifle raffle to support a high school volleyball team has come under scrutiny, with a state Gaming Commission official declaring it unlawful. Joe Oliver, owner of JJ Armory, intended to raise funds for the Riverhead High School volleyball team by raffling off a semiautomatic weapon, but state law restricts such raffles to religious, charitable, and nonprofit organizations only, prompting local leaders and law enforcement to consider potential repercussions.
As the raffle date approaches on September 20, tensions rise in the community, especially after school officials announced they would not accept any money raised through the event. Local civic leader Cindy Clifford voiced her outrage, calling the raffle “insane” and asserting that it raises serious moral questions about decision-making in fundraising efforts. Oliver maintains his ignorance of the legal standards surrounding raffles and intends to seek clarification from the gaming commission, as community support for his initiative spreads.
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