Two Valley candidates listed as speakers can't attend gun giveaway event

Gun Owners of America Saturday fest in Bucks features AR-15, Tommy gun raffle.

Two Lehigh Valley candidates who are listed as guest speakers at a Bucks County event where an AR-15 will be given away said they are not participating.

Republican Dean Browning, who is seeking the 14th Senate seat, and Republican Jarrett Coleman, who is running for the 16th Senate seat,  are among nine speakers listed by Gun Owners of America on a flier for its Oct. 1 Freedom Festival. 

State Sen. Doug Mastriano, the Republican gubernatorial candidate, also is among the listed speakers.

The event, to be held at Warminster Community Park in Bucks County, will feature a gun giveaway of an AR-15 and a Tommy gun, according to a flier. Typically such giveaways are handled as raffles. Persons must be 18 or older, be a resident of Pennsylvania and present at the rally to receive the guns.

Browning, who was endorsed by GOA,  told Armchair Lehigh Valley that he received a “save the date” notice about the event in July that did not mention a gun giveaway. 

“I recently learned I was on the list of speakers,” Browning said. “While I strongly support the right of law-abiding citizens to own guns, I will not be able to attend this weekend.”

Browning cited a last-minute campaign event as the reason he won’t attend. 

“However, I don’t think the raffle {of the guns} is putting our best foot forward,” Browning said. 

Coleman was also endorsed by GOA. He told Armchair Lehigh Valley that a “simple miscommunication” led to his name appearing on the flier. He said a family member is getting married on Oct. 1, thus he had no plans to attend the Freedom Festival.

“I am in the wedding party,” he said. 

The Gun Owners of America event has generated some concern in Warminster, according to an article in Patch.com.

The event also has led to tweets criticizing Mastriano for participating from members of Moms Demand and others.