The Lake Villa GOP was supposed to raffle off five guns, including an AR-15 rifle. But mass shootings in Buffalo, NY and Texas led to the event’s indefinite postponement.

A raffle of five guns — including an AR-15-type rifle — planned as part of the Lake Villa Republican Club golf outing June 16 will not take place after some community members raised concerns of insensitivity to the mass shootings in Uvalde, Texas, on May 24 and Buffalo, New York on May 14.

Participating club members unanimously agreed through electronic communications Friday to postpone the raffle indefinitely because it became a distraction to what they say is a much larger and necessary discussion which needs to take place about violence locally and across the country.

Dick Barr, a Lake County Board member and the club’s vice chair, said Tuesday people with differing views on violence in Lake County and beyond need to talk about the issues through a human, not political, lens.

“We’ve got to have an open discussion about ways to prevent these tragedies in the future,” he said. “First and foremost, we have to talk about all of the concerns and issues that are on the table. It has to include mental health.”

Though the raffle was scheduled well before a gunman, 18, shot and killed 19 children and two teachers at an elementary school in Uvalde, and another 18-year-old gunned down 10 people at a Buffalo grocery store 10 days before, those events led to the change.

Barr said while there will be no raffle at the golf outing June 16, a final decision to cancel the raffle cannot be made until the entire membership has the opportunity to vote. Balloting cannot take place until the next meeting scheduled for September.

Lake Villa Democratic Chair Kasia Kondracki said Tuesday she was getting messages from community members about the lack of sensitivity from the local Republican club. They felt the timing of the raffle was in bad taste.

“One of the concerns I heard was they were tone deaf, having a raffle after two shootings, which was being done so they could give scholarships to high-schoolers,” Kondracki said. “The flyer with the guns is still on their website.”

Barr acknowledged Tuesday the image of the guns which were to be raffled was still on the website, but raffle tickets can no longer be purchased. He said the image would be removed.

Kondracki said she is willing to have a discussion about gun violence, but it must include community members with differing opinions and everyone must be willing to listen to each other.

“I’m open to a discussion as long as everyone communicates amicably and respectfully,” Kondracki said. “I hope we can all agree on some things.”

Lake County Republican Chair Mark Shaw said violence is a serious issue perpetrated on people in a variety of ways, which includes not only guns but knives, fists and vehicles. When the talk gets too political, conversations become more challenging.

“The issue of gun violence has become too political of a conversation to have in a public community discussion because people will say things to seal the influence of groups from which they want favor,” Shaw said.

Lauren Beth Gash, the Lake County Democratic chair, said she still believes it was wrong to raffle an AR-15-type rifle in the midst of a “nationwide gun epidemic.” She does not oppose a discussion with Republicans, but is not optimistic.

“I don’t hold high hopes it is going to happen,” she said. “Several pieces of legislation on gun violence are in the United States Congress. We welcome them to join us lobbying for their passage.”

Those with hopes for a discussion about gun and other types of violence prevention may get their wish. Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart said she will consider such a conversation at a County Board meeting. It could have merit, she said.

“Gun violence is a public health concern in Lake County, and in the country,” Hart said. “I look to have many conversations, discussing the legislation we want our legislators to pass to keep people safe.”