The Pima GOP gun raffle: just some good ol' boys dancing on a few graves

Just when you think that Arizona's Republicans can't get any more tone deaf or shameless, they find new ways to embarrass the state.

From the Pima County Republican Party's August newsletter -

HELP PIMA GOP GET OUT THE VOTE AND MAYBE HELP YOURSELF TO A NEW GLOCK .45

Get yourself a new Glock 23 .40 cal handgun for just 10 bucks - if your name is drawn.  That's right, for just 10 dollars this gun could be yours.  TIckets will be for sale at your Pima GOP Headquarters, 5447 E. 5th Street, suite 100, from 9 AM to 5 PM Monday thru Friday.  You can also purchase tickets at Pima GOP events.

Pic of the newsletter's blurb courtesy Blog for Arizona

For those with short memories, Pima County was the location of January's mass shooting by Jared Loughner.  Loughner used another Glock to kill six people and wound 13 others, including Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.

The Pima GOP's scheme has raised a furor.

From Rep. Chad Campbell, Democratic leader in the Arizona House of Representatives (full statement here) -

“I am gun owner myself, a supporter of the Second Amendment and I also believe in common sense. Their raffle is not common sense; it is sick, and the Pima County GOP should call off the raffle in respect for the Arizonans who died and were injured in the Tucson shooting.

From Brian Miller, the recently ousted chair of the Pima GOP (full story here) -

"There's a woman who has a bullet in the brain and who everybody is wishing a full recovery," Brian Miller, the immediate past chair of the Pima County GOP told TPM. "I don't think that raffling off a firearm right now is probably the right way to go."

To be sure, the Pima GOP has defended its fundraising scheme.

From Mike Shaw, interim chair of the Pima County Republican Party (full story here) -

[W]e'd like to point out the Glock is not responsible for what happened at the Tucson shooting. Jared Loughner is responsible for what happened at the Tucson shooting."

However, what Mr. Shaw didn't say, but I will, is this -

Just as Loughner was responsible for his actions, Shaw and his associates are responsible for theirs.

Their scheme has brought shame to Arizona, and while Shaw and his associates may be emotionally incapable of feeling that shame (or any other shame, for that matter), the rest of the state does.




A list of those whose graves the Pima GOP is dancing on in order to raise money -

Christina Taylor Green, age 9

Judge John Roll, 63

Dorothy  Morris, 76

Phyllis Schneck, 79

Dorwan Stoddard, 76

Gabe Zimmerman, 30, a staffer for Congresswoman GiffordsAs far as that goes, Mr. Shaw is correct - Loughner is responsible for his actions at the massacre.