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Local group raffles off rifle to benefit children's program

A weapon is a prize in a raffle to raise money for programs to help children.
Channel 9 found out that phone calls to buy tickets for the raffle are being sent to three Central Florida county jails.
The flyer advertising the raffle was created by the Florida Council on Crime and Delinquency.
It advertises a chance to win an AR-15 rifle and there are phone numbers on the flyer to buy $20 tickets.
Every one of the numbers directs you to someone's desk at the Orange, Seminole and Osceola County jails.
Some were perplexed by the offer.
“Probably a good value, but it’s very bizarre and counterintuitive,” said Andrew Shure.
Information on the raffle to win the $1,200 gun was tweeted out by St. Cloud police.
The local Florida Council on Crime and Delinquency chapter said the $6,800 or so raised would be used to community projects, like buying gifts for underprivileged children.
“They could raffle off a car or something other than a gun. That doesn’t make sense to raffle off a gun,” said Laura Stephenson.
Officials in Orange and Seminole counties seemed surprised that calls for information about the AR-15 raffle were going to to county jail office.
There is an asterisk on the flyer that said the winner must comply with applicable laws and background checks.
A member of this organization said that they won't really be handing over a rifle to the winner, but instead a certificate they can use to pick up the gun.         
Steve Barrett

Steve Barrett, WFTV.com

Reporter Steve Barrett returned to WFTV in mid-2017 after 18 months in the Twin Cities, where he worked as Vice President of Communications for an Artificial Intelligence software firm aligned with IBM.