NEW YORK (AP) — A new $12 million television ad campaignfrom Mayors Against Illegal Guns will push
senators in key states toback gun control efforts, including comprehensive background checks.NewYork City
Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced the ad buy Saturday — justdays after Senate Democrats touted stronger
background checks whileacknowledging insufficient support to restore a ban on assault-styleweapons to
federal gun control legislation."These ads bring thevoices of Americans — who overwhelmingly support
comprehensive andenforceable background checks — into the discussion to move senators toimmediately take
action to prevent gun violence," Bloomberg said in astatement issued by the group he co-founded in
2006.The two adsposted on the group’s website, called "Responsible" and "Family," show
agun owner holding a rifle while sitting on the back of a pickup truck.Inone ad, the man says he’ll defend
the Second Amendment but adds "withrights come responsibilities." The ad then urges viewers to
tellCongress to support background checks.In the other ad, the man, ahunter, says "background checks
have nothing to do with taking gunsaway from anyone." The man then says closing loopholes will
stopcriminals and the mentally ill from obtaining weapons.The Senateis scheduled to debate federal gun
control legislation next month. OnMarch 28, the group plans for more than 100 events nationwide in supportof
passing gun control legislation that includes background checks.MayorsAgainst Illegal Guns and other
gun-control advocates frequently cite amid-1990s study that suggests about 40 percent of U.S. gun
transferswere conducted by private sellers not subject to federal backgroundchecks. Based on 2011 FBI data,
the group estimates 6.6 million firearmstransfers are made without a background check for the
receiver.Aspokesman for Bloomberg could not immediately say if the $12 millionwas coming from Bloomberg or
the mayor’s political action committee,Independence USA. The New York Times, which first reported the
adcampaign Saturday night, said Bloomberg was bankrolling the ad buy.Aspokesman for the National Rifle
Association blasted Bloomberg and thenew ads, saying NRA members and supporters would be calling
senatorsdirectly and urging them to vote against proposed gun controllegislation."What Michael
Bloomberg is trying to do is …intimidate senators into not listening to constituents and insteadpledge
their allegiance to him and his money," said spokesman AndrewArulanandam.Bloomberg has long supported
efforts to curb gunviolence, including sending New York City undercover investigators intoother states to
conduct straw purchases from dealers. Last month,Bloomberg’s PAC poured more than $2 million into ads
supporting Illinoisstate Rep. Robin Kelly, who won a special primary and ran partly on aplatform of
supporting tougher gun restrictions.The new ads willair in 13 states the group believes are divided on gun
control:Arkansas, Arizona, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, NewHampshire, Nevada, North Carolina,
North Dakota, Ohio and Pennsylvania.Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.