Lake Oswego Pastor Will Destroy Gun He Won in Raffle

A local pastor who won an AR-15 automatic rifle after spending $3,000 on raffle tickets plans to destroy the gun, according to reports. The gun had been auctioned by a kids' softball team raising money to compete at a tournament in California.

The Rev. Jeremy Lucas of Christ Church Episcopal Parish in Lake Oswego didn't necessarily think he would win, but he wanted to try to make sure the gun was never used in a crime. At the least, he wanted to help the softball team conducting the auction.

The team — the Oregon Big League Girls' All Star Softball Team, which is made up of players from Centennial, Gresham and Milwaukie High Schools — was looking to raise money so it could fly to California and represent Oregon at the West Regional Tournament.

Willamette Week first reported the news of the raffle.

"This gun will never be used for a mass shooting," Lucas told KGW News. "This gun will never be used for any of those tragic events that we pray for, that we hold moments of silence for.

"No one will ever hold a moment of silence because this gun has done that thing. And that made me pretty happy."

Lucas says he doesn't know how he will destroy the gun. He still has to pass the background check before he takes possession.

A former lawyer in Alabama — he was born and raised in Birmingham — Lucas practiced in the state and federal courts, devoting much of his time to pro bono work preventing violence to humans and animals. In 2000, he was the lead author for Alabama's first Felony Animal Cruelty bill, which was signed into law later that year.

In 2001, needing a change, he moved to New York City to enroll in the General Theological Seminary. His first day in New York was September 11th.

Before arriving in Oregon, Lucas served in Athens, Alabama, Namibia, and North Clark County, Washington.