Duane Barbati

Alamogordo Daily News

ALAMOGORDO – The United Way of Otero County resumed their calendar firearms raffle sales Wednesday.

The United Way of Otero County had suspended their calendar firearms raffle after receiving a letter from United Way Worldwide asking the local nonprofit to agree to stop the raffle immediately by signing a letter of agreement Aug. 3.

“We are very excited to refocus our efforts towards raising money for the 13 partner agencies that United Way of Otero County supports” President of the United Way of Otero County Josh Beug said. “Our partner agencies make a real difference in the lives of Otero County residents. We are proud to be able to continue to help them financially.” Beug said while the marketing efforts for the raffle will change slightly “the rules will stay the same, the prizes will stay the same and all tickets that have been sold will be honored.”

He said United Way Worldwide gave the organization the go ahead to continue the raffle.

“We’re fine with them,” Beug said. “We’re back on track. They’ve allowed us to continue. We’ve come to terms with them.”

United Way Worldwide spokesman Ryan Powers said we don’t have anything more to add to the United Way of Otero County’s statement.

“It’s an internal membership discussion,” Powers said. “I’ve seen the statement and we don’t have anything more to add to the statement. It’s an internal membership discussion and we’d prefer to keep it at that.”

The United Way of Otero County teamed up with Western True Value to sell 2017 calendars with a raffle entry ticket attached to the calendar for $50. The raffle gives the purchaser the opportunity to enter into a twice weekly firearms raffle. The raffle is limited to 3,000 tickets or calendars being sold. It could net the organization about $150,000 minus the cost of the background checks of the winners of the firearms.

The firearms being raffled are rifles, shotguns and handguns that include an AR-15 rifle, a 12 gauge Mossberg shotgun and various caliber rifles and handguns.

Western True Value Store Manager Kerry Maupin said the raffle will be conducted according to firearm laws including a firearm background check on each winner.

“I think they realized that there were a lot of charters nationwide that were doing gun raffles,” Maupin said. “I am thrilled that we’re able to go forward. I think my opinion the lady up in Santa Fe she’s the one who needs to leave United Way as far as I am concerned if it’s against her beliefs and her feelings. Maybe instead of everyone else bowing down to her beliefs and opinion, she needs to back down. We fought hard and the people spoke up.”

He said he’s sold a lot of calendars and probable help us.

“A lot of these gun raffles across this nation helps a lot of people,” Maupin said. “It’s our tradition. It’s our heritage.”

New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence Co-President Miranda Viscoli sent a letter to United Way Worldwide alerting the organization about the firearm raffle that led to the suspension of the raffle.

“Basically putting 104 firearms back into a state where gun violence is destroying our communities,” Viscoli said. “It’s unconscionable. It has nothing to do with what United Way is about. They’re paving the road for other United Way branches to hold raffles.”

She said she believes firearm background checks are flawed.

“They say the people who win will go through background checks,” Viscoli said. “That doesn’t matter for so many reasons, one our background checks system in this state is completely broken and two that person can win the firearm then turnaround and sell it.”

She said she believes the seller could sell it to buyer without knowing if they’re a terrorist or a convicted felon or a teenager.

“We don’t have universal background checks,” Viscoli said. “For them to say they do a background check is absurd. God forbid any of those firearms are involved in crime what if it goes straight back to United Way. It’s a public nightmare.”

Calendars for the firearm raffle can be purchased at the United Way of Otero County office, 1601 E. 10th St., or at Western True Value, 412 Ninth St., or by calling them at 437-0660.