Youth hockey league to raffle 200 guns to raise money for ice rink time

A youth hockey league is raffling 200 guns to raise money for ice rink time. (West Fargo Hockey Association/)

A youth hockey association in North Dakota is raffling off 200 guns including a number of semi-automatic firearms as part of a fundraising effort to purchase more ice time for its teams.

According to a report from North Dakota’s Valley News Live, the West Fargo Hockey Association is holding the fundraiser with the hopes of raising $90,000 and will raffle off the guns on March 15. Cal Helgeson, president of the Association, said that people who find it difficult to obtain certain types of guns can enter the raffle for the opportunity to win one.

“With the shortage of guns, we have secured all of our guns. [M]ore difficult ones are on here.”

The terms and conditions of the raffle state that the transfer of all guns will be made through a federally licensed firearms dealer and that the “winner must be 18 years old and 21 years old for a handgun,” in addition to meeting state and federal requirements to possess a firearm.

The raffle comes amid national debates for gun law reform after a 20-year-old used a semi-automatic weapon in December to open fire inside Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., leaving 27 dead at the school including 20 children.

According to the website for the hockey Association, the purpose of the league is to “serve the youth of West Fargo and surrounding area” and to promote competitive hockey.

“The chief objectives of this association are to promote, develop and administer a competitive hockey program. The program is meant to serve the youth of West Fargo and surrounding area.”