GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Soon, the parking lot of New Chapel Church in Comstock Park will have the scene of a summer carnival mixed with games, sermons and giveaways.
One of the items up for grabs is an AR-15.
"The reason why we raffle off things like bikes or a gun is for the reason that John Adams wrote that the annual celebration of Independence Day should be one that's celebrated with fireworks and barbecues and one of the things he listed was guns," said Pastor Joe Bevelacqua.
Lynne Nelson and her neighbors were all sent a flyer by New Chapel advertising their "Living in Freedom" event that will take place on Sunday.
"I'm as patriotic as the next person, but I believe an AR-15 is a military-grade assault rifle," said Nelson. "They have no business rattling it off to who knows who in this day and age."
On New Chapel's website, pictures of their previous winners are posted, with both winners posing with church staff and the rifle.
Pastor Bevelacqua said they would be doing background checks.
"We've had people that went out for it, and we've made sure that we've done a background check," said Bevelacqua. "You don't have to do a background check to come to church, and so you don't have to do that to enter in, but in order to obtain the weapon, you must have a background check. And that's state law. That's not something that we're making up and that we do anything shady like that."
For Nelson, who says she does attend church, adds that a friend of hers used to attend New Chapel.
"I just went up and talked to her, she's not feeling well today, and she said, Please tell them I went to that church, and when I saw this, I stopped," said Nelson quoting her friend. "She says, this is just, she was so upset. She was just shaking."
Pastor Bevelacqua assures those who agree or disagree with the giveaway that it is safe and has only good intentions.
"Jesus believes in personal protection," said Bevelacqua. "We hate it when we hear news about mass shootings. It grieves me in my heart, and we pray for those families. The solution to that type of crime in society is not for the good people who are doing it in the right way to be unarmed."
New Chapel church said they also offer Concealed Carry Permit classes.
The Carnival will be at their church campus on Sunday after their services, with the last one starting at 11:30 a.m.