Illinois Democrats on Monday criticized plans by the Kendall County Republican Party to raffle off a Smith & Wesson semi-automatic rifle similar to the one authorities say was used to kill seven people and wound dozens of others at the Highland Park Fourth of July parade.
“It is inappropriate and offensive for the Kendall County Republican Party to raffle off an assault weapon at a political fundraiser, especially a gun so similar to the one used to take seven innocent lives in Highland Park just one week ago,” U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly, chair of the state Democratic Party, said in a statement.
Kelly called on both the state and Kendall County GOP to “show some compassion and common sense by calling off this gun raffle and ceasing the use of assault weapons in future political fundraisers and other events.”
