NRA To Hold A Fundraiser At Gargiulo’s in Coney Island

SOUTHERN BROOKLYN – The Brooklyn Friends of the NRA is planning to hold a fundraiser at Coney Island’s noted Gargiulo’s restaurant on April 12th.

According to their website, this organization will hold its second annual fundraiser to raise money on behalf of the controversial NRA. It will include guns being raffled off, as well as décor, gear and other collectibles. Up to $1,500 per ticket is being offered.

This has been met with swift reaction from other local politicians, considering Coney Island’s problems with gun violence.

Council Member Mark Treyger, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, Public Advocate Letitia James, Comptroller Scott Stringer, and Senator Diane Savino released a joint statement this afternoon calling for the fundraiser to be cancelled:

“At a time when our country is mourning the loss of 17 lives in a mass shooting, it is profoundly disappointing that a storied Coney Island institution, with a long history of being a strong civic and community partner, is choosing to host a National Rifle Association fundraising event that includes raffle giveaways of guns.

Bringing an event like this to Coney Island is an affront to all of the hard work that our community has done to address gun violence in our neighborhood. We know that Gargiulo’s has always had the best interests of the Coney Island community at heart, which is why it is so disappointing that they are hosting the NRA, an organization that actively lobbies for concealed carry reciprocity, something that NYPD Commissioner O’Neill has rightfully called ‘insanity.’ There is no room in Coney Island or our city for events like this.

We urge Gargiulo’s to expeditiously cancel this event.”

Ross Barkan, a Democratic candidate for Senator Golden’s seat, is calling for supporters to call Gargiulo’s and demand the “disgusting event” be cancelled.

“This comes after Parkland and Las Vegas and Orlando and Sandy Hook and Aurora and all the other mass shootings that have claimed too many lives and shattered too many families,” Barkan says according to a campaign email. “These shootings keep happening because the NRA cares more about AR-15’s than actual people.”

Barkan’s opponent, and anotehr contender for Golden’s seat Andrew Gournades,  sent out a tweet saying the fundraiser was “unacceptable”.

“We need to say loud & clear that the NRA is not welcome in Brooklyn.”

When Garguilo’s was contacted in regards to this event, no one was available to comment.

When Golden’s communications director was contacted, he had left for the day.

Even Vincent Sallustro, the contact person of this fundraiser, was unable to be reached with phone calls going to his voicemail.