Gun control advocates launch new television ad

>>> super bowl viewers in the washington, d.c. area will be drawn into the national debate on gun violence . an ad calling for background checks on all gun sales will air in that market during the game break, sponsored by mayers against illegal guns, new york mayor michael bloomberg helped start that group. democratic congressman david seleni of rhode island , a founding group of the mayor's group. congressman, good to see you.

>> good to see you.

>> the ad will only air in the d.c. market. why there?

>> i'm not sure why there. it's a really effective ad. it reminds people that nra supported universal background checks and reminds people of the impact of gun violence , particularly on children and says -- it -- mr. la pierre saying in his own voice, closing the loopholes no, loopholes for anyone anywhere, and, of course, now the nra has changed their position and is opposing universal background checks . a very effective ad. being shown in the washington, d.c. area so members of congress will see it.

>> a lot of the members probably aren't there watching the game. there could be a split in law enforcement apparently for this. dozens of sheriffs across the country are opposed to the president's plan, saying "their jurisdictions largely include rural areas and stand in sharp contrast to those of urban police chiefs who have historically supported tougher gun regulations." and president obama headed to minneapolis tomorrow. how can he deal with the rural versus urban difference?

>> no one is suggesting that people don't have the right for a firearm. but most people agree that criminal who's don't have the right to have a firearm are prevented from getting one, we ensure people who have serious mental illness don't have access to firearms, reassuring folks that nothing that the president is suggesting, nothing that congress is proposing will limit the right of people to possess a firearm. what we have to do is be sure that we're preventing criminals from having access to firearms, making sure that people who suffer from serious mental illness don't have access to firearms.

>> the mental health aspect. massachusetts, for instance, since the federal database has existed, that state has committed one -- this was just to test the system. one background check . one mental health background check . if we can't get states to submit the information to the federal database, then what good will it do to create anything on the legislation?

>> are you absolutely right. we have to do both things. we are absolutely right. make sure states are required to comply with the background system. so it has currently and accurate information. and every purchase of a firearm requires a background check . to make sure those factors are checked. criminal background, mental health status. requires to us do both things, states have to put the correct information into the system and every single purchase of a firearm must be required to go through the system. we have to do both things. there will be more than one thing we are doing. fix the broken background check system and make sure everyone follows the procedure before they purchase a gun.

>> congressman, thank you.