Community Corner
NRA Fundraiser With Gun Prizes Again Planned On Long Island
An NRA fundraiser is planned on the island next month, much to the chagrin of one state lawmaker.
NEW HYDE PARK, NY — A fundraising event for the National Rifle Association is once again planned on Long Island, and at least one local lawmaker is urging the venue to cancel.
The fundraiser is planned Sept. 19 at The Inn in New Hyde Park, according to a flyer from the Nassau County Friends of NRA. The event, meant to celebrate a "legacy" of shooting sports traditions, will feature dinner, raffles and auctions, with attendees given chances to win NRA guns, gear, decor and collectibles.
Among the prizes this year: the 2019 gun of the year set, a Sig Sauer P210 American Standard 9 mm pistol, decked out with a Friends of NRA decal. Other prizes include a Kimber Micro 9 mm with NRA logo, Henry single shot brass .45-70 with logo, and Mossberg 500 Pump-Action 12-gauge shotgun combo.
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A single dinner ticket costs $65, with a table for 10 running $600. A Charlton Heston table for 10 costs $2,000.
State Sen. Jim Gaughran, a Democrat who represents the 5th District, tweeted Thursday that he asked the venue to reconsider holding the event last year, but was told he'd asked "too late for them to cancel the event." Gaughran's district includes Huntington, Oyster Bay, parts of Melville and Hicksville, but does not extend to New Hyde Park.
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"What I can't understand then, is why The Inn is hosting them again this year," he wrote.
Gaughran wrote a letter to The Inn this week again asking the venue to reconsider hosting the fundraiser. He said the nation is in the midst of a gun violence epidemic, and accused the NRA of ignoring pain and suffering caused by gun violence.
"This is profoundly disturbing and it is my sincere hope that you reconsider," he wrote in the letter.
The Inn, located near Jericho Turnpike and South 3rd Street, is a popular venue for weddings and corporate events. Guests are treated to elegant ballrooms, a private outdoor patio, crystal chandeliers and more.
A message left with The Inn wasn't immediately returned. An email message seeking comment from the Nassau County Friends of NRA wasn't immediately returned.
See also: NRA Fundraiser, Gun Raffle Draws Fire From Community
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