12:31 PM EST on Friday, March 3, 2006

Associated Press

CLEMSON, S.C. -- Three people declined to accept an A-K-47 that was the prize given away by a Clemson University conservative newspaper in a fundraiser.

The drawing yesterday came after about 150 tickets had been taken without donations by people opposed to giving away a weapon.

Andrew Davis is editor of The Tiger Town Observer. Davis says the gun was offered to bring attention to the Second Amendment right to bear arms as well as raise money for the paper and other charitable causes.

Davis said the event raised about 500 through ticket sales and about 800 more through direct contributions from people who didn't want tickets.

The original winner says she never wanted to be in the raffle. The assault rifle then went to the second-place winner who said he bought the tickets for a friend. That man says he wants the second-place prize -- a 22 caliber rifle -- but --NOT-- the A-K-47.