Republicans from Gabrielle Giffords' District Host Gun Raffle

Republicans in Gabrielle Giffords' district are raffling off a gun for get-out-the-vote efforts.

The auction announcement was made in a newsletter for Pima County Republicans. Parts of Pima County are in Arizona's eighth congressional district, which Giffords represents.

That's right, for just 10 dollars this gun could be yours, the newsletter reads.

But the raffle has been criticized by both Democrats and Republicans due to the Jan. 8 shooting that left six people dead and 13 injured, including Giffords, who is still recovering. The gun used was a Glock 19. The gun being raffled is a Glock 23.

James Kelley, chairman of the Republican party's Legislative District 29, did not think well of the raffle.

It doesn't mean the Republican Party doesn't have an incredible record of support the Second Amendment, but at this point it's ill-advised and I won't stand with them on this, Kelley told the Arizona Daily Star.

Democratic state lawmaker Chad Campbell spoke about the raffle with KTAR News.

I'm speechless, Campbell said. I'm a strong supporter of the second amendment but this is just common human decency we're talking about here. It shows a complete lack of judgment.

Interim GOP chairman Mike Shaw expressed surprise at the reaction to the raffle to the Arizona Daily Star, but he also defended the fundraising effort, noting that Giffords spoke about owning a Glock herself back in 2008.

Now it's an opportunity to remind people it's not the gun that kills people, he told the Arizona Daily Star. It's the person with the intent. The Glock has as little to do with what happened that day as a number two pencil has when someone cheats on a test. Jared Loughner is responsible for what happened.

The newsletter notes there are 125 raffle tickets for sale and that the firearm will come with three 12-round magazines, adjustable grips, and a case.