How Much Money Did Rubio Get From Nra

A political action committee opposed to the re-election of Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) will air a new ad starting on Monday that focuses on the Republican's approach to gun command.

The Retire Rubio PAC will spend a five-figure sum on digital advertising for the new video, entitled "Parkland." Newsweek has had an exclusive look at the advertising, which highlights Rubio'due south ties to the gun industry.

The advertising recounts details from the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida, in which 17 people died, and transitions to criticizing the senator's pro-gun policies.

"Since the Parkland shooting, over 3,500 kids take been killed by guns," the ad says. "Senator Marco Rubio received $3.3 1000000 from the NRA."

According to figures compiled past the Brady Entrada to Prevent Gun Violence, the National Rifle Association has donated more than $three.3 million to Rubio.

However, this probable represents both direct donations to Rubio so-chosen exterior spending. OpenSecrets.org, a website that tracks campaign spending, estimates that the NRA spent between $2 million and $three.2 1000000 to help elect Rubio in 2016.

"Then Marco Rubio refused to ban the AR-xv, which was used in the Parkland shooting," the video states, before showing footage of Rubio saying he would go on to take donations from the NRA during a CNN town hall event in 2018.

The graphic below, provided past Statista, shows U.S. public opinion on gun laws, based on polling past Gallup.

"I will always accept the assist of anyone who agrees with my agenda," Rubio said at the fourth dimension. He has also refused to dorsum an attack weapons ban, garnering criticism from some Parkland survivors.

The ad concludes with the logo "Retire Rubio 2022" and a voiceover saying: "If we can't protect our children in schools, and so who tin we protect?"

Nick Merlino, senior adviser to Retire Rubio, told Newsweek on Wednesday: "Elections have consequences and, in this instance, information technology's a thing of life and death.

"Time and again, Marco Rubio has failed to protect the people of Florida from weapons of war. Instead of supporting common-sense laws that ban assault weapons like the AR-fifteen, which was used in the Parkland shooting, Marco Rubio has repeatedly opposed basic gun safety laws while doing the NRA's bidding.

"This group has poured millions into his political campaign coffers. We program to hold him answerable," Merlino said.

"Florida has one of the latest Democratic primaries in the state, and while our side works to determine who is going to have him on, the PAC was created to make sure Marco isn't left unattended," Retire Rubio said in a statement.

"Retire Rubio is beingness run by people who have won statewide elections in Florida and know exactly what needs to exist washed to beat Marco in 2022."

Fred Guttenberg, whose daughter Jaime died at Parkland, criticized the senator in a argument sent to Newsweek by Retire Rubio.

"Following the murder of my daughter Jaime in the Parkland school shooting, I had the skilful fortune of working with many local and national legislators who stepped up to work with me to deal with gun violence," Guttenberg said.

"Sadly, Marco Rubio was not 1 of them. His ongoing and intentional failure to address the reality of gun violence in our state and in his backyard makes him unfit for another term."

Rubio is up for re-election side by side year. He defeated his Autonomous opponent with 52 percent of the vote to 44 per centum in 2016.

Senator Rubio has been asked for comment on this article.