GOP candidate Greg Evers says raffle is his way of protecting the Second Amendment

♦By Rich Shumate, Chickenfriedpolitics.com editor

PENSACOLA, Florida (CFP) — Barely a week after a gunman murdered 49 people with an assault rifle in an Orlando nightclub, a Florida congressional candidate says he will give away an AR-15 to a winner chosen randomly from people who like his campaign Facebook page.

Florida State Senator Greg Evers

State Senator Greg Evers, a Republican running for the 1st District congressional seat, announced the raffle in a statement on his campaign website. The winner will be selected on the Fourth of July.

“With terrorism incidents on the rise, both at home and abroad, protecting our constitutional rights has never been more important,” Evers said in the statement. “With all that’s happening in the world today, I’ve never felt stronger about the importance of the Second Amendment in protecting our homeland than I do now.”

The post on his website features pictures of the assault rifle, made by a gun manufacturer in the district, Advanced Tactical Solutions of Santa Rosa Beach. According to Evers’s announcement, the right side of the gun will display the actual wording of the Second Amendment.

To be eligible for the prize, the winner must be at least 18, live in the district and pass a background check. People can also become eligible by sharing one of Evers’s Facebook posts or signing up at his website.

Evers is one of 11 Republicans running in the 1st District, which takes in the western half of the Florida Panhandle. The primary is Aug. 30.

The district is currently represented by Republican U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller, who is retiring.