A youth baseball league in Northeast Ohio is raffling off four guns – including an AR-15. It’s the fifth year for the fundraiser, though organizers acknowledge it’s drawing more attention than usual in the past.

Youth baseball and guns

East Canton Youth Baseball Association President David Spencer says the gun raffles have kept registration and equipment costs at a minimum and helped grow the program from 60 to 140 kids. But he acknowledges some people have a problem with assault-style weapons underwriting youth sports, which is why the league started a kid’s “hit-a-thon” alternative last year.

“A grandparent may be interested in doing the hit-a-thon but maybe an uncle may be interested in the gun raffle. That’s why we target different demographics for these fundraisers to make sure that not anyone group is carrying the burden.”

Spencer says guns are part of his rural Stark County community’s culture and no one has voiced objections to him directly. But he has seen Facebook posts protesting the drawings.

Spencer says he understands that the issue is a sensitive one, especially after the school shootings in Parkland, Fla.

Spencer on school shootings

“It’s terrible some of the things that have happened in recent times, in the last five to 10 years. Those are tragedies and I’m not trying to discount those. But I don’t think taking away any other person’s individual rights in any way helps that."

Each year, the group sells 1,500 to 2,000 raffle tickets. The gun transfers are done through a dealer and include background checks.