Giffords gun-control group spends $300,000 on ads targeting Va. Republicans

RICHMOND — A national gun-control group is bankrolling a $300,000 ad buy that blasts Virginia Republican legislators for blocking tighter gun laws, including by shutting down a special legislative session called in response to the May mass shooting in Virginia Beach.

Giffords, a group launched by former congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords after the Arizona Democrat survived an assassination attempt in 2011, will roll out three online advertisements on Wednesday.

“Guns kill more than 1,000 Virginians every year,” a female narrator begins in one of the spots. “But year after year, and tragedy after tragedy, Republicans in Richmond refuse to even vote on common-sense gun reforms. Virginians are working together to end the gun violence epidemic, but we need allies in Richmond to get it done. It’s time to vote out Republican legislators who would rather stand with the NRA than take a stand against gun violence. Vote November 5th.”

That 30-second ad, titled “More than 1,000,” shows images of candlelight vigils, gun-control activists and newspaper headlines, including one referring to the aborted special session in July.