Ga. store offers gun raffle tickets to voters

Created on Friday, 02 November 2012 10:55 Last Updated on Monday, 03 December 2012 20:13 Published on Friday, 02 November 2012 10:55 Written by Associated Press Hits: 732

ATLANTA (AP)—Want a chance to win a rifle or handgun? Go vote. That’s the message from an Atlanta-area sporting goods store.

The promotion caught the attention of the secretary of state’s office last week and drew a complaint from a state senator who said it may break the law.

Georgia law prohibits anyone from giving or receiving money or gifts in exchange for voting, and felony charges could be brought if the law were broken, Secretary of State Brian Kemp said in a statement.

Eight billboards for Adventure Outdoors urge people to bring in their “I voted” sticker to enter a raffle for a Glock handgun or Browning rifle. The secretary of state’s office warned the store owner that offering the raffle only to people who voted may be violating the law.

Store owner Jay Wallace said the raffle was open to anyone, even those who don’t vote.

Reaction to the raffle has been “almost 100 percent positive,” Wallace said.

“We received some almost slanderous emails,” he added. “I would say they’re on the side of not liking guns, to put it mildly.”