Gun laws take spotlight in Senate, 8th District ads

Two organizations on opposing sides of gun policy are running ads in the Twin Cities market.

Everytown for Gun Safety, the umbrella organization for New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's Mayors Against Illegal Guns and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, is spending nearly $26,000 on an ad supporting Sen. Al Franken.

The spot features Miya and Sami Rahamim. They are the son and daughter of Reuven Rahamim, the owner of Accent Signage Systems who was killed in a workplace shooting in 2012.

Franken is an obvious candidate for the group's endorsement because "he is committed to supporting common sense gun safety legislation," said Shannon Watts, who founded Moms Demand Action. She'd like to see the U.S. Senate take up legislation that expands the definition of domestic violence and strengthens background checks.

Franken already has the backing of Americans for Responsible Solutions, a group founded by former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and her husband after she was shot in 2011. The group also advocates for stricter gun control, and has been sending out fliers on Franken's behalf.

The National Rifle Association's buy is significantly larger. The group plans to spend more than $739,000 on ads in support of Republican Stewart Mills, who is running against DFL Rep. Rick Nolan in the 8th Congressional District.

"Stewart Mills in the only person in this race who is committed to protecting the Second Amendment," said NRA Institute for Legislative Action spokeswoman Catherine Mortensen. "He will stand strong against the extreme gun control agenda being pushed by President Obama and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg."

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