United Way Chapter In New Mexico Ordered To Halt Gun Raffle

ALAMOGORDO, N.M. (AP) — United Way Worldwide is asking a New Mexico affiliate to stop a planned firearms raffle. The Alamogordo Daily News reports (http://goo.gl/bX2hdz) United Way Worldwide demanded last week in a cease and desist letter that the United Way of Otero County stop the raffle immediately. The letter comes after the United Way of Otero County teamed up with Western True Value to sell 2017 calendars with a raffle entry ticket attached to the calendar for $50. The raffle gave the purchaser the opportunity to be entered into a twice weekly firearms raffle. It would have netted the organization about $150,000 minus the cost of the background checks of the winners of the firearms. United Way of Otero County spokeswoman Michelle Brideaux said the local organization has suspended the raffle.