Massachusetts Congressman Jake Auchincloss is coming under fire for airing an online political video advertisement in support of the ‘Yes on 9’ ballot campaign in which critics say he broke state and federal gun laws.
Auchincloss, a Democrat, posted the video ad to social media, where he speaks in favor of the ‘Yes on 9’ campaign in Massachusetts while assembling an AR-15 with an extended clip.
“I’m Jake Auchincloss. As a dad of three, I order lots of stuff online. Clothes, school supplies, you name it. But, you can also order the parts to build an untraceable gun. As a Marine, I know that firearms demand training, accountability and responsibility. ‘Yes on 9’ keeps protections against ghost guns and assault weapons in place and helps police solve crimes,” Auchincloss said while assembling the rifle. “I approve this message, because while you can order almost anything online, an assault weapon should not be one of them.”
But critics, like the National Rifle Association (NRA) and gun rights activists, say Auchincloss is so ill-informed of state and federal firearms laws that he broke at least two of them in the recording. They also say that Auchincloss’ claims that citizens can order firearms parts in the mail legally are completely untrue.
They say Auchincloss committed at least two felonies in the video: one for assembling what appears to be an extended magazine and another for his apparent ownership of an AR-15, an assault weapon banned in Massachusetts.
“Where did you film this? Isn’t this firearm banned (under bad laws *that you supported*) in the People’s Republic of Massachusetts?” the NRA posted to X in response to the video ad.
Toby Leary, a gun rights activist leading the ‘No on 9’ campaign, also the owner of Cape Gun Works in Hyannis, says on top of Auchincloss being apparently unaware of state and federal gun laws, he’s also using a “fear tactic” to trick people into believing its legal to obtain gun parts through the mail.
“[Massachusetts law] prohibits anyone from sending or receiving parts through the mail, as he said in the video while trying to make it sound like you could shop on Amazon.com for these parts, which you can’t,” Leary explained to the Herald.
“He assembled what looked to be a fully functional AR-15 with a large-capacity magazine, all of which are a violation of Massachusetts state law and have been since 1994, as we still live under the 1994 assault weapons ban here in Massachusetts. We made it permanent and codified it into state law in 1998.”
Auchincloss’ office tells the Herald the gun used in the video was a fake and that the congressman’s representation of sending and receiving gun parts in the mail was accurate.
“The gun used in the ad is a replica. Federal law does not require serial numbers on all firearms, including receivers and frames, assembled by individuals for personal use. The 2024 Massachusetts law at issue in Question 9 closes that gap by requiring privately made firearms—including those assembled from receivers, unfinished frames, or made by 3D printing—to be serialized and registered with the state, regardless of intent to sell or transfer,” said Auchincloss spokesperson Georgina Burros.
“The ad specifically refers to ordering parts to build an untraceable gun. Under the 2024 Massachusetts law, assembling an unserialized firearm is illegal. The Congressman in this ad is advocating to keep this law in place,” she said.
Leary slammed Auchincloss for presenting a “fabrication” of the truth to Massachusetts voters, adding that Question 9 doesn’t even address trafficking gun parts via mail.
“He speaks of his responsibility and accountability, but what about his responsibility to tell the whole picture and explain how what he just did would be totally illegal in any state in the country, never mind Massachusetts? Jake needs to do better and he needs to tell the whole story,” Leary continued.
Question 9 asks Massachusetts voters whether to keep or repeal Chapter 135, a 2024 state law creating an array of new firearms regulations. Those backing a repeal of the 2024 law, like Leary, are pushing for a “no” vote while those opposing a repeal, like Auchincloss, are pushing for a “yes” vote to keep the law in place.
According to the Office of Campaign and Political Finance (OCPF), Auchincloss spent nearly $90,000 on the ad buy, which will reportedly continue running on social media in the days leading up to the election.
“Repealing chapter 135 will bring us back to 2024 where we will still have the strictest gun control regime in the country and will still have the lowest firearm related death rate in the continental United States,” added Leary. “We will also still have red flag laws, we will have assault weapons bans, we will have magazine capacity bans, we will have licensing and background checks and all the things that they’re trying to do to scare people into upholding this bad law that has screwed up so many good people’s lives in Massachusetts just since it’s been implemented.”
The general election is Tuesday.
