ELMA, N.Y. (WKBW) — Saturday could have been the last Spring gun raffle for the Jamison Road Volunteer Fire Company. That's because the New York State Assembly has proposed a bill (A01413) that would prohibit organizations from hosting gun raffles.
Jamison Road Fire Company hosts two gun raffles per year, one in the Spring and the other in the Fall. They are the fire hall's main fundraising events, bringing in more than $30,000 per year equal to 12 percent of the company's operating costs.
“I think these New York City liberals have good intentions but this law would decimate volunteer fire companies and charities the receive proceeds from gun raffles," Erie County Comptroller, Stefan Mychajliw, said. “This fire hall can actually put out gear for nine firefighters with what they receive from guns raffles.”
Without the gun raffles, there's a fear that many volunteer fire companies like Jamison Road, would go under. This would then cause taxes to rise in towns like Elma.
“These are good law abiding gun owners that come here to try and win a gun to go out and hunt, they’re good sportsman," Jamison Road Fire Company Board Director, Brian Nolan, said.
It was mandatory for any lucky gun raffle winner to pass a background check through a federally licensed gun dealer on site.
7 Eyewitness News reached out to the governor's press office for a statement and is still waiting for a response.
