Ryan Payne, a veteran charged over the Bundy ranch protest in 2014, has applied to have his Nevada trial postponed

A protester accused of getting into an armed standoff with police while guarding the Bundy ranch has asked for his trial to be postponed after the Vegas shooting.

Ryan Payne, who allegedly helped mobilize an armed militia to defend the ranch of Cliven Bundy from federal agents in a dispute over grazing rights back in 2014, claims it will not be possible to get a fair trial in the current climate.

Lawyers Brenda Weksler and Ryan Norwood said the 'unprecedented act of violence will prevent the defendants from having a fair trial in this city one week from now.'

'This is not the time to pick a jury and commence trial in this case,' they added in a written submission seen by the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

The attorneys wrote: 'The shooter is a white male reported to be from Mesquite, Nevada — only a few miles away from the Bundy ranch and the site of the April 12, 2014, events in the wash by Highway I-15.

'Regardless of the facts, when and if they all come to light, many people have and will associate him with Cliven Bundy and his supporters, who have been previously described as "domestic terrorists" by Nevada Senator Harry Reid and others.'

Payne's lawyers say he will be unable to get a fair trial over the protest, which featured a group of armed protesters standing off with police (pictured), after the Vegas massacre

Payne is accused of helping to organize an armed militia in order to keep federal agents away from Cliven Bundy's ranch while they tried to confiscate his cattle

Payne had previously indicated he was willing to plead guilty in the case, but withdrew the offer after plea bargaining talks broke down.

The standoff happened after federal agents from the Bureau of Land Management tried to remove a herd of Bundy's cattle from public lands amid a decades-long protest over grazing rights.

With Bundy refusing to cooperate and agents closing in, hundreds of armed militiamen and former veterans descended on the ranch and formed a cordon, saying they were willing to return fire if attacked.

The bureau eventually retreated, but many returned for a second protest at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge two years later.

After a second standoff with agents, Bundy agreed to surrender along with two of his sons - Ammon and Ryan - and several supporters, including Payne.

Once in custody the men were also charged over the first protest.

Bundy is also facing charges over the protest along with two of his sons, Ammon and Ryan, and three other defendants with the trial due to start next week

Stephen Paddock opened fire on festival-goers from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel (pictured) on Sunday, killing 58 in the worst mass shooting in American history

Payne entered his appeal as another defendant in the case, amateur radio host Peter Santilli, indicated he is willing to plead guilty to charges of federal conspiracy.

Santilli had previously argued he was only covering the protest as a journalist, but altered his plea - partly because of the Vegas shooting.

Lawyer Chris Rasmussen said: 'The shooting made him realize that this is a difficult case in trying to defend Second Amendment rights, and after the shooting it’s going be onerous, or very difficult.

'People aren’t going to be in the mood to hear about gunmen. … He knows that this isn’t a time to be talking about the Second Amendment. It’s kind of offensive.'

A hearing has been scheduled for Friday to decide whether or not Payne's trial should be allowed to go ahead.

As things stand, he is due to go on trial alongside Bundy, his sons and three other defendants on October 10.