gun protest NRA

Gun control advocates gather outside the National Rifle Association to call for gun control in Fairfax, Virginia on Jan. 14. They have gathered here on the 14th of every month to honor the 26 people gun downed at the Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012. (AP Photo | JIM LO SCALZO)

(AP photo)

PHILADELPHIA -- Comcast, the Center City-headquartered cable company, is getting kudos from a statewide gun law lobbying group for turning down a National Rifle Association (NRA) advertisement.

CeaseFire PA issued a statement Monday that asked supporters to email Comcast and let the media giant know that addressing the commercial -- which in part depicted children using guns to advertise a February event -- with the NRA was appreciated.

"Thank you for standing up to the NRA. Guns and children are a dangerous mix. Over 18,000 children and teens are injured or killed each year due to gun violence," reads a message from CeaseFire PA, a non-profit coalition of elected officials, faith leaders, law enforcement members and more.

"TV ads that glorify this mix don't belong on the air. We know it takes guts to stand up to these gun bullies. We are standing with you," the message condemning the commercial for the NRA-promoted event continues.

According to CeaseFire PA, the NRA sent two television commercials to Comcast. According to philly.com, the images of children with guns violated the company's internal policy. The NRA went back edited the 30-second spot advertising the Great American Outdoor Show, which will air in central Pennsylvania.

The nine-day trade show to be held in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania staring early next month features more than 1,100 exhibitors "ranging from shooting manufacturers to outfitters to fishing boats and RVs, and archery to art covering 650,000 square feet of exhibit hall space," according to the event's website.

According to a Jan. 22 news article, an NRA spokesperson said the association had no intentions of changing the advertisement. Per an email from Comcast to the NRA, "any and all images of rifles, shooting ranges, and handguns" would need to be removed prior to approval.

In another report regarding the disagreement between the two groups, an NRA spokesperson is quoted as saying that removing the "crucial aspect" of the event would be a "disservice" to those who planned on attending.

"Even for a big company, it takes guts to stand up to the gun bullies," CeaseFire's statement reads.

The outdoor show will run from Feb. 4 to Feb. 16 at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex. The event was already a hot topic in Harrisburg, where local leaders pulled city police officers from staffing the event due to donations the NRA agreed to make, according to pennlive.com.

Greg Adomaitis may be reached at gadomaitis@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregAdomaitis. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.