Church Cancels Teen Gun Giveaway

[alocispepraluger102]

Church Cancels Teen Gun Giveaway

OKLAHOMA CITY -- An Oklahoma church canceled a controversial gun giveaway for teenagers at a weekend youth conference.

Windsor Hills Baptist had planned to give away a semiautomatic assault rifle until one of the event's organizers was unable to attend.

The church’s youth pastor, Bob Ross, said it’s a way of trying to encourage young people to attend the event. The church expected hundreds of teenagers from as far away as Canada.

“We have 21 hours of preaching and teaching throughout the week,” Ross said.

A video on the church Web site shows the shooting competition from last year’s conference. A gun giveaway was part of the event last year. This year, organizers included it in their marketing.

“I don’t want people thinking ‘My goodness, we’re putting a weapon in the hand of somebody that doesn’t respect it who are then going to go out and kill,'” said Ross. “That’s not at all what we’re trying to do.”

Ross said the conference isn’t all about guns, but rather about teens finding faith.

“You make a lot of new friends down here,” said Vikki Goncharenko, who attended the conference. “You get to meet new people. There's a bunch of things that are going on. It's just, you have a wonderful time.”

Friday evening, Ross said the gun giveaway had been canceled. Pastor emeritus Jim Vineyard, who ran the event, injured his foot and wouldn’t be able to attend. The gun giveaway was also removed from the church Web site.

Ross said the church would give the gun away next year instead. He said the church spent $800 buying the gun for the promotion.

http://www.koco.com/news/16860079/detail.html

[papsrus]

That's insane.

[AllenLowe]

If they'll throw in a grenade launcher, I'm there -

[B. Clugston]

Am I too far off in saying that this could only happen in America?

In most other Western countries, that youth pastor would be doing time in jail for this.

[AllenLowe]

add some napalm, 3 anti-personnel mines, a hand grenade, and one small nuclear device, and I'll bring some friends -

[Willard]

I don’t want people thinking ‘My goodness, we’re putting a weapon in the hand of somebody that doesn’t respect it who are then going to go out and kill,'” said Ross.

ah ah ButtHead you heard him? ah? he said take this Gun and kill' em all in the name of Beavis Christ

Edited July 30, 2008 by Willard

[Chalupa]

Am I too far off in saying that this could only happen in America?

In most other Western countries, that youth pastor would be doing time in jail for this.

Federal law prohibits anyone under 18 from possessing a gun. I don't understand why these people haven't been arrested.

Edited July 30, 2008 by J.H. Deeley

[RDK]

Ross said the conference isn’t all about guns, but rather about teens finding faith.

"Between your faith and my Glock nine millimeter, I'll take the Glock." - Jericho Cane (Arnold Schwarzenegger) in "End of Days" (1999)

[AllenLowe]

add 94 sticks of dynamite, 51,000 shotguns, 23,000 bottles of liquor and one screaming virgin, and you have Northern Maine -

[Willard]

The church’s youth pastor, Bob Ross, said it’s a way of trying to encourage young people to attend the event. The church expected hundreds of teenagers from as far away as Canada.

“We have 21 hours of preaching and teaching throughout the week,” Ross said.

Church of Our Lord Beavis Christ!! Bloody Mess held daily!!!Converts Welcome!!

Edited July 30, 2008 by Willard

[porcy62]

add 94 sticks of dynamite, 51,000 shotguns, 23,000 bottles of liquor and one screaming virgin, and you have Northern Maine -

[porcy62]

Am I too far off in saying that this could only happen in America?

I thought it could only happen in Spaghetti Western.

[Jazzmoose]

Windsor Hills Baptist had planned to give away a semiautomatic assault rifle until one of the event's organizers was unable to attend.

I'm not sure I understand this part; do they give away one per hour until the kids hit one of the organizers and can't continue?

[papsrus]

Windsor Hills Baptist had planned to give away a semiautomatic assault rifle until one of the event's organizers was unable to attend.

I'm not sure I understand this part; do they give away one per hour until the kids hit one of the organizers and can't continue?

I didn't really get this either. Why was the event canceled? Because one of the organizers couldn't attend? Sounds weird ...

"Op ... the organizer can't make it. That's it, that's it, call the whole thing off!"

Edited July 30, 2008 by papsrus

[Chuck Nessa]

Give 'em all weapons and the problem will be solved in a while.