Homeland Defender': Florida Congressional Candidate to Give Away AR-15 in Wake of Orlando Attack

A Republican candidate for Congress in Florida has launched a Facebook contest on his campaign page to give away an AR-15 rifle on Independence Day.

Greg Evers, currently a Florida state senator, announced Monday he would award the semi-automatic firearm to one constituent of the 1st congressional district from the Sunshine State.

Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images

"With terrorist shooting incidents on the rise, the contest underscores the importance of the 2nd Amendment freedoms in defense of our homeland," Evers said in a statement about the "Homeland Defender Giveaway."

Evers has served in the Florida Legislature since 2001, to include his post in the state Senate for the past six years. The National Rifle Association has given the senator an A-plus rating for 15 years.

The custom-designed AR-15, which the Evers campaign said is the "Homeland Defender" collector's edition, will be awarded to a randomly-selected person who has liked and shared the candidate's page or signed up on his campaign website.

The rifle was made in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, and features the Second Amendment on the metal plate near the trigger guard.

Participants must be at least 18 years old and the winner will be selected July 4. In order to receive the gun, the winner must pass all background and security checks.

"I've always been a supporter of the Second Amendment. Terrorism and ISIS is a constant threat," Evers said, using a popular acronym for the Islamic State.

Evers is one of five candidates running in the Aug. 30 Republican primary for the seat vacated by Rep. Jeff Miller. State Rep. Matt Gaetz, Evers' chief competition, also enjoys an A-plus NRA rating, but feels Evers' giveaway is nothing more than a "gimmick."

"This is a campaign gimmick," Gaetz said. "Instead of giving away something that benefits one, he should have found a way to make all Floridians safer."

The AR-15 has been a hot topic ever since the Orlando terror attack. Shooter Omar Mateen used a Sig Sauer MCX during the rampage, but early reporting claimed he used an AR-15.

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