NRA Plans To Roll Out Pro-Gun Ads In Virginia Despite Las Vegas Tragedy: Report

The mass shooting of hundreds of people in Las Vegas, the worst in American history, won't stop the National Rifle Association from rolling out a massive pro-gun ad campaign in Virginia in the run-up to the gubernatorial election, according to a Washington Post reporter.

Fenit Nirappil tweeted Monday morning that the NRA has booked "more than $750k in airtime in Virginia through Election Day."

Later, he added that an advertising firm and Richmond, Virginia, television station have confirmed that the ads were supposed to start Tuesday but have been delayed until Oct. 10. He added that a "source familiar with NRA" claims the ads have been delayed before and the latest delay is not due to the shooting. Politico also reported similar details, citing sources. Patch could not independently confirm the identity of the television station, or whether that was indeed the case.

Advertising firm and Richmond TV station confirm the ads were supposed to start tomorrow, but have been pushed back to 10/10. https://t.co/WkbCV3mauc
— Fenit Nirappil (@FenitN) October 2, 2017

Source familiar with NRA ad buy said it had already been pushed back the week before -- and that the latest delay isn't linked to Vegas https://t.co/eSGJ54exBh
— Fenit Nirappil (@FenitN) October 2, 2017

At least 58 have been killed and more than 500 wounded after 64-year-old Stephen Paddock unloaded round after round from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay casino onto a crowd of concertgoers outside, police say. He later committed suicide as police closed in on his location, according to police.

Sheriff Joe Lombardo: Toll Of Dead, Injured Increases

>> Read more: Las Vegas Shooting: At Least 58 Dead, More Than 500 Injured In Worst Mass Shooting In U.S. History

Meanwhile, National Rifle Association spokeswoman Dana Loesch taunted Twitter users who called her "evil" and directed vulgarities at her as she criticized people for making a political statement out of the tragedy.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ralph Northam said in a statement that he was "devastated and horrified" by the shooting, but stopped short of advocating for gun control. Ed Gillespie, his Republican opponent, tweeted that he was "praying for victims and all those affected by this act of evil."

The NRA is a nonprofit organization that advocates for gun rights. It was founded in 1871 and has been the most prominent pro-gun group in America, earning itself a fair amount of controversy due to its responses to similar mass shootings in the last few years. The organization boasts five million members and annual revenue of $348 million as of 2013.

Image via NRA