Rep. Jake Auchincloss Faces Criticism Over AR-15 Campaign Ad

Rep. Jake Auchincloss Faces Criticism Over AR-15 Campaign Ad

by

Rep. Jake Auchincloss Faces NRA Backlash Over AR-15 Online Campaign Video

Massachusetts Congressman Jake Auchincloss finds himself at the center of a sharp political storm after releasing an online video ad to support the ‘Yes on 9’ ballot campaign, with critics arguing the footage depicts violations of both state and federal gun laws. The Boston Herald first detailed the controversy surrounding the digital spot, which features the Democratic lawmaker assembling an AR-15 with an extended clip while discussing firearms regulations.

“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 states in the ad, addressing the camera directly 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.”

The campaign ad, backed by nearly $90,000 in political ad spending according to records from the Office of Campaign and Political Finance (OCPF), is designed to encourage voters to uphold Chapter 135. That measure, enacted in 2024, instituted a broad array of new firearms regulations across Massachusetts. Tuesday’s general election will determine whether voters decide to keep or repeal the law.

Critics Alleging Felonies and False Claims

Gun rights organizations and local merchants wasted little time condemning the footage after it appeared on social media platforms. The National Rifle Association took to X to question the origins of the firearm used in the spot, writing, “Where did you film this? Isn’t this firearm banned (under bad laws that you supported) in the People’s Republic of Massachusetts?”

Toby Leary, a gun rights activist leading the ‘No on 9’ campaign and owner of Cape Gun Works in Hyannis, argued that the congressman demonstrated a fundamental misunderstanding of existing statutes. Leary told the Herald that Auchincloss not only propagated a “fear tactic” about mail-order firearm parts but also appeared to commit felonies on camera by handling items prohibited under state legislation.

“[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 added that the congressman assembled what appeared to be a fully functional AR-15 with a large-capacity magazine—components that have faced strict prohibitions in Massachusetts since 1994, which were made permanent and codified into state law in 1998.

Campaign Defense and the Debate Over Question 9

In response to the mounting criticism, Auchincloss’ office clarified that the gun used in the video was a replica. Georgina Burros, a spokesperson for the congressman, defended the message regarding online parts acquisition and the intent behind the legislative push.

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.

Burros maintained that the ad specifically refers to ordering parts to build an untraceable gun and that the congressman is advocating to keep the 2024 law in place. Opponents like Leary, however, contend that Question 9 doesn’t even address trafficking gun parts via mail, arguing that the ad misleads voters about the realities of current statutory frameworks.

As the campaign moves toward Tuesday’s general election, both sides continue pressing their arguments over the future of gun governance in the commonwealth. Repeal advocates maintain that the state already maintains the strictest gun control regime in the country and the lowest firearm related death rate in the continental United States, while supporters of the law argue that closing gaps for privately made weapons remains essential for public safety.

More on Faces Criticism: Mayor Johnson Faces Criticism for Shrinking Chicago Police Force

Chris Wright Faces Sharp Rebuke As Jake Auchincloss Challenges Trump's Wind Energy Policies

More on this

Read next