NRA launces offensive targeting pro-gun control senators up for re-election

>>> joining me now is colin goddard , a survivor of the virginia tech shooting , and assistant director of federal legislation for the brady campaign to prevent gun violence . colin, good to see you again. tell me where we are now in these weeks since newtown, weeks and months since newtown. how has the nra done and what about your campaign to try to counteract it?

>> we've made a lot of progress in the past two months, andrea. last week we just got done with a major fly-in with victims and survivors of gun violence throughout the country coming in to d.c. to lobby their representatives for two days. this week we have district meetings with members across the country and next week we have the first markup in the senate judiciary committee and major events and rallies across the country. we've been rolling, making a lot of progress, connecting with a lot of people and making sure the public opinion is being heard here on capitol hill .

>> now, the nra , which has money to spare, apparently, is already targeting senators who are running in 2014 with ads that are going to appear across the country tomorrow.

>> right. we've seen a lot of ads from both sides, and i think, you know, we're trying to stay true to the issue, trying to stay true to the specifics of what we're proposing, not speak in vague generalities that don't understand what we're really talking about, and because of that, we're seeing the american public maintain their engagement. we've hardly seen the people still engaged in gun violence prevention after a major shooting. this is different. having leadership in the white house helps contribute to that fact.

>> the nra campaign we're told is going to reach out to states, $350,000. here are the senators, one of maine and democratic incumbents being targeted. because of the open seat of jay rockefeller . are you able to counteract that? what have you found in going around to the offices on the hill? are these people vulnerable, and are they resisting your entreaties?

>> i think most members are realizing the american public are behind these public safety measures, you know. we want background checks on gun sales. now with the emergence of kelly and gabby giffords and the super p pac, bloomberg, as well, we're poised to stand in position and support people who vote for common sense safety measures.

>> at this point, do you think the common agreement will be on background checks , something that the nra at least in the past supported?

>> i think so. it's been great to see, you know, that has kind of like the no brainer, yeah, let's get that done. now we're talking about the other issues in the president's proposal. we think we need to look at the issue comprehensively. there's no one thing that's going to solve all gun crimes, but background checks is the lowest-hanging fruit and people get it. it's great we're getting consensus there and building it in other areas, too.

>> the vice president was saying to this online conference sponsored by "parents" magazine, get a gun, get a shotgun, load your shotgun. is that the right message?

>> like you said, biden being biden. he has a very candid way of speaking, you know, and i think it's just clear the president and the administration support the second amendment and proposals that they are putting forth is not going to stop any law-abiding good american owning a gun but will make it difficult for people to get their hands on a gun in the first place, which is what this is about.

>> colin goddard , always good to see you. thank you so much for being here.