Costa ‘Offended’ Chafee Linked Her To Gun Raffle

State Rep. Doreen Costa (R-Dist. 31, North Kingstown, Exeter) said Thursday she was “offended” by Gov. Lincoln Chafee’s remarks that she was behind the raffle of an assault rifle at the state Republican Party’s “Family Day” event Saturday at the South County Rod & Gun Club in West Greenwich.

The GOP is calling the free event, “A family day at the range full of targets, food, prizes and fun.”

In a press release, Costa said her comments were in response to Chafee’s statement through his spokeswoman that raffling off an assault weapon was "inappropriate'' and "tone deaf” in light of recent mass shootings, including the killing of 26 children and adults in Newtown, Conn., last December.

“The governor wants to hear from me so I’m responding,” she said. “I want to know why the governor is focusing on a raffle when he should be focusing on putting people back to work, investigating 38 Studios, lowering taxes, building business-friendly legislation with the General Assembly and coming up with a game plan with the Republicans to help our state’s low income residents who will be losing their benefits through WIC due to the Democratic U.S. Senate’s refusal to negotiate.”