Minnesota Rep. Jason Lewis is one of the targets of the ad campaign by former Arizona Rep. Gabby Giffords. | Jacquelyn Martin/AP Photo Giffords buys ads against 8 Republicans on concealed carry

Gabby Giffords is going up on the air Monday with a six-figure ad buy against Reps. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-N.J.) and Jason Lewis (R-Minn.) from her gun safety group.

The ads come ahead of this week’s expected House vote on Concealed Carry Reciprocity, which, if enacted, would be a massive opening of gun laws across the country, forcing all states to accept gun licenses issued in any state. The result could lead to gun carrying laws effectively being set everywhere at the lowest level any state would allow.


“In the wake of our country’s worst mass shooting, Congress came up with its most dangerous idea yet: nearly anyone with a hidden loaded gun would be allowed into your community. No background check? No training? No questions asked,” a female narrator says, over images of police officers, gun shells dropping to the ground and guns stuck into the back of pants. “Will Jason Lewis side with law enforcement, or the gun lobby?”

Digital ads will also go out against Reps. Steve Knight (R-Calif.), Ed Royce (R-Calif.), Mimi Walters (R-Calif.), Mike Coffman (R-Colo.), Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.) and Barbara Comstock (R-Va.). All of these are at the top of Democrats’ 2018 pick-up hopes. There will be a radio ad focused on the three Southern California members.

“The ads call on voters to speak up about this dangerous bill and call on their leaders put the safety of communities before the interests of the gun industry,” said Peter Ambler, executive director of Giffords, the name of the political group founded by the former Arizona congresswoman and her husband, Captain Mark Kelly.