Iowans for the Prevention of Gun Violence

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release:
December 4, 2003

Contact:
John Johnson
319-743-7823

ICHV and IPGV Statement on Quad Cities Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial AR15 Gun Raffle

Executive Board rejects offer by Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence and Iowans for the Prevention of Gun Violence to provide a hunting rifle or shotgun as raffle prize in place of AR15 rifle

Rock Island, IL - On December 3, 2003, the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence (ICHV) and Iowans for the Prevention of Gun Violence (IPGV) received word that the Executive Board of the Quad Cities Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial has decided not to accept an offer from ICHV and IPGV to provide the Board with a hunting rifle or shotgun to be used as a raffle prize in place of an AR15-type assault rifle. ICHV and IPGV made the offer to the Board in a November 18, 2003 letter to Board chairman, Detective Gene Karzin, of the Rock Island Police Department. The raffle is being held to raise money for a memorial to Quad Cities police officers killed in the line of duty. Thom Mannard, executive director of ICHV, and John Johnson, executive director of IPGV, issued the following statement regarding the Board’s decision.

“We are of course disappointed that the Executive Board of the Quad Cities Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial did not accept our offer of a hunting rifle or shotgun for the raffle instead of an AR15-type rifle. However, we respect the Board’s decision and appreciate that the Board took the time to give our offer serious consideration.

“We were also pleased to learn that the Board has decided to cancel a planned raffle of a second AR15-type rifle, even though the tickets have already been printed. We thank the Board for taking this action.

“While we fully support the Board’s fundraising efforts, and have each made a contribution to the memorial, we consider that an AR15-type assault rifle is not an appropriate raffle prize to raise money for a memorial to police officers killed in the line of duty.

“We would like to thank Detective Karzin and the Board for the courteous and professional manner in which they dealt with our offer. We wish them success in their future fundraising efforts.”