Giffords Group Targets McConnell, Ayotte in Gun Vote Ads

Americans for Responsible Solutions, the group founded by former congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and her husband Mark Kelly, released its first ads today attacking senators who voted against the bill last week that would have expanded background checks for people buying guns.

The radio ads target Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., and will run in their home states. The Kentucky ads will air in Lexington and Louisville while the New Hampshire ads will run in Concord, Manchester, Keene, and the seacoast.

"It was a common sense plan that protected Second Amendment Rights. But Senator McConnell ignored the will of the people," a voice says in the ad airing in Kentucky.

"Well, it sure didn't take long for her to 'go Washington.' Says here Ayotte voted against improving background checks to keep guns out of the hands of criminals," a woman says in the New Hampshire ad.

Last week, Kelly told reporters their group would air ads supporting those senators who voted in favor of the Manchin-Toomey plan in addition to attack ads against those who did not vote for the measure.

Asked the day after the background check vote if they hope to oust any senators up for re-election in 2014, Kelly said "It's a target rich environment after yesterday."