After Parkland, NRA Donations Poured In

The NRA's political arm had its biggest fundraising month in 15 years in the aftermath of the February school shooting in Parkland, Fla. The NRA's Political Victory Fund in March pulled in $2.4 million, all but $500,000 coming in increments of less than $200, reports the Miami Herald, citing Federal Election Commission filings. That's the most raised since June 2003, nearly three times more than was raised in March 2017, and $1.6 million more than was raised in February of this year, when a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School kicked off a national debate about gun control, per the Hill.

NRA donations usually spike after mass shootings. But the March total is well above the $1.1 million raised in the first full month after the 2013 Sandy Hook school shooting, reports the Herald. In comparison, Gabrielle Giffords' political action committee for gun control raised $129,589 last month, while the student-led March for Our Lives gun control campaign has raised $3.5 million since Feb. 18. That money is going to fund marches and to support Parkland victims and their families. The NRA's fund goes toward political campaigns. It totaled $5.8 million at the end of March. (See why NRA supporters are blowing up coolers.)