Twin Falls district shuts down gun raffle fundraiser

The Twin Falls School District has closed down a raffle of a shotgun and a rifle — a planned fundraiser for a high school baseball team.

District officials say Canyon Ridge High School coach Chris Waitley did not get permission before planning to raffle the shotgun and AR-15, and asking his players to sell tickets, the Twin Falls Times-News reported Friday.

“We’re not taking a stand on gun rights,” district spokeswoman Eva Craner told Ryan Blake of the Times-News. “It’s just not an appropriate raffle for our students.”

Had Waitley asked for permission, the district would have turned down the request, Craner told the Times-News. District officials have turned down similar requests in the past, she said.

Students have been asked to refund money to people who bought tickets, Craner told the Times-News.

Kevin Richert

Kevin Richert

Senior reporter and blogger Kevin Richert specializes in education politics and education policy. He has more than 30 years of experience in Idaho journalism. He is a frequent guest on "Idaho Reports" on Idaho Public Television and "Idaho Matters" on Boise State Public Radio. Follow Kevin on Twitter: @KevinRichert. He can be reached at [email protected]

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