Rifle raffle hits the mark

NAMPA - A gun shop has collected more than three tons of food for the hungry and homeless in a raffle for an AR-15 semiautomatic assault rifle and 1,000 rounds of ammunition valued at $2,000.

Alpha Omega Services Armageddon Armory in Nampa is offering one raffle ticket for two non-perishable food items until the drawing on April 15.

Owner Roberta Regnier said business has been brisk and she wants to share the good fortune by collecting food for the Boise Rescue Mission.

"We were just trying to find a way to kind of help the community out, and try to help people remember (those in need) need food all the time, not just around the holiday," Regnier told the Idaho Press-Tribune. "It's not just the needy people, it's everyday people who are now finding themselves out of work and out of their homes."

The gun shop previously raised about a ton and a half of food for the same mission with a raffle for a Springfield Armory XD pistol and 1,000 rounds.

Much of the food is being distributed through Lighthouse Rescue Mission in Nampa, one of the Boise mission's operations.

"This is incredible and exciting and brand new for the Boise Rescue Mission," said Jason Billester, the mission's events and development manager. "You wouldn't believe the amount of food we've got at the Lighthouse now as a result of their big hearts."

Regnier and her husband David also run Stepping Stone Ministries, which she said supports overseas missionary work.

A day after the drawing, Regnier said, they plan to start another raffle, this time for a model 1927 A1 Deluxe Tommy Gun and 1,000 rounds of ammunition. The semiautomatic weapon was made last year but resembles the guns popular with Prohibition-era gangsters 80 years ago.

David Regnier said the Tommy Gun and ammo are worth more than $2,000, and he expects food donations to continue.

"It's an incredibly popular and very expensive firearm," he said. "It's an American classic."

Raffle business was booming Thursday morning, he said.

"We've been open for 20 minutes and we've already had four cases of food come through the door," he said. "Hunger isn't just around the holidays. In these hard times people are needing assistance year-round."