The National Rifle Association will take part in CNN's nationally televised town hall Wednesday night with Florida school shooting survivors, parents and others, the network reports.
The NRA said its national spokeswoman, Dana Loesch, will represent the organization on CNN's town hall program, "Stand Up: The Students of Stoneman Douglas Demand Action."
The NRA's participation is somewhat of a surprise since the group generally shies away from commenting immediately after mass shootings like last week's massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, which claimed 17 lives.
Shortly after the shootings, Loesch called for protesters to march on FBI offices to call attention to the agency's failure to act on at least two tips about suspected shooter Nikolas Cruz, The Daily Beast reported.
The town hall also will include the victims' classmates, parents, community members, Democratic Florida Rep. Ted Deutch, Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel.
Rubio, a strong NRA supporter, has accepted contributions from the organization, as have many other Republican lawmakers.
CNN said President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Rick Scott turned down invitations to the meeting.
"With only two weeks left of our annual legislative session, Governor Rick Scott will be in Tallahassee meeting with state leaders to work on ways to keep Florida students safe, including school safety improvements and keeping guns away from individuals struggling with mental illness," a Scott spokesman has told CNN.
Trump plans to speak Wednesday with students and teachers who have been affected by school shootings.
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