Charleston paper apologizes for gun ad next to church shooting story

Charleston’s Post and Courier apologized Thursday for publishing an ad for a local gun range next to a front-page story about a mass shooting in the city.

“The front-page sticky note that was attached to some home delivery newspapers on the same day as this tragedy is a deeply regrettable coincidence,” the newspaper said in a statement, according to blogger Jim Romenesko. “We apologize to those who were offended.”

“It was just unfortunate timing,” an advertising department manager told Romenesko. “The ad had already been scheduled.”

{mosads}The ad attached on Thursday morning’s cover of The Post and Courier promotes a shooting range in Summerville, S.C.

It lists a ladies night event and says, “$30 gets you everything.” Among the products included in the ad are “50 rounds of ammo,” a “pistol or revolver” and a “range pass” for shooting.

The ad came the morning after a mass shooting at a historic African-American church.

The FBI announced on Thursday that it had identified 21-year-old Dylann Roof as a suspect. The shooter allegedly attended an evening service at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in downtown Charleston, S.C., for about an hour before opening fire on other congregants.

Six women and three men were killed in the shooting, with eight of the victims found dead at the scene. Another person died en route to an area hospital, according to local law enforcement officials.

Romenesko said the advertising manager spoke on the condition of anonymity given sensitivity over the incident.