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Students upset after parents' association holds gun raffle to pay for party

'It's ironic to the point that it's sad,' said one student.

BRUNSWICK, Md. — Loretta Donoghue and some of her peers at Brunswick High School were shocked when they found out a gun raffle was being held to pay for their graduation party. 

"It seemed illogical to me to have a school event be associated with the sale of weapons," she said. 

The fundraiser, hosted by parents' "Safe & Sane" association, involved raffling off a gun every day for the month of February. Tickets were sold for $20. 

Credit: BHS Safe & Sane

When the shooting in Parkland, Fla., sparked a nationwide, student-led movement, Donoghue joined in by attending the March for Our Lives protest in Washington and organizing a walkout at her own school.

"It's something that you never get used to," she said, referring to school shootings,"and I think older generations might not fully understand what it's like." 

The parents' association told WUSA9 they have to find creative ways to cater to adults to raise as much money as possible for students' events. Hunting is very popular in Frederick County.

Chassidy Pluckard, who organized this year's raffle, said she was surprised to hear of some students' reaction. She said the fundraiser was announced in November and held in February, and that no one spoke up. 

"Nothing was brought to anybody's attention until April. You can't do anything about history, said Pluckard.

Donoghue said students only found out about the raffle recently. 

"If I had known about the raffle, I would have gone to her. Sadly my peers and I did not hear about it until after it had been planned and was taking place," she said. 

The guns were provided by R&R Guns and Ammo. Ticket-buyers were required to be at least 18 of age. The flyer clearly indicates anyone winning a gun would have to undergo a background check. 

Of the 1,000 tickets available, only 250 were sold. Just seven of those were winning tickets, with only three winners claiming their guns.Other winners either opted for the cash prize or chose to donate their money back to the students' association. 

The gun raffle has been held at Brunswick High for the past five years, but Donoghue said things are different now that teens around the country are no longer taking a backseat when it comes to guns. 

"It comes down to the fact that we are becoming more aware that we have a role to play," she said. "We have a responsibility to stand up for our opinions."

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