A Federal Lawmaker’s Online Campaign Ad Sparks Felony Accusations in Massachusetts
Massachusetts Congressman Jake Auchincloss finds himself facing sharp backlash from gun rights advocates and political opponents after releasing an online campaign video for the “Yes on 9” ballot initiative. In the digital ad, which features a nearly $90,000 spend tracked by the Office of Campaign and Political Finance, the Democratic lawmaker assembles what appears to be an AR-15 rifle equipped with an extended magazine while arguing that firearm parts can be easily ordered online.
Critics, including the National Rifle Association and Cape Gun Works owner Toby Leary, assert that the demonstration violates both state and federal laws. They argue that the congressman’s assembly of an assault-style weapon and a large-capacity magazine depicts acts explicitly banned under Massachusetts statutes, which have been in place since 1994 and were made permanent and codified into state law in 1998.
Staff Defends Digital Spot Featuring Replica Weapon
The core dispute centers on whether the video depicts illegal conduct or a lawful demonstration using simulated hardware. Auchincloss’s office defends the digital spot by maintaining that the weapon featured in the footage is a replica rather than a functioning firearm.
As a Marine and dad, I’m voting Yes on 9 to keep assault weapons off our streets. pic.twitter.com/eckH0z3Ids
“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,” said Georgina Burros, a spokesperson for Auchincloss. Burros explained that the 2024 Massachusetts law addressed by Question 9 specifically targets the gap surrounding privately made, unserialized firearms by requiring them to be serialized and registered with the state.
Opponents counter that the imagery used in the ad misleads voters regarding the actual mechanics of firearm shipping laws. Toby Leary, a leading voice for the “No on 9” opposition campaign, argues that state regulations strictly prohibit mailing gun parts to consumers within the commonwealth.
Where did you film this? Isn't this firearm banned (under bad laws *that you supported*) in the People's Republic of Massachusetts? https://t.co/KOOWWrfSLD
“[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.
The Stakes Surrounding Question 9
The electoral battleground focuses directly on Question 9, which asks voters to decide whether to uphold or repeal Chapter 135—a 2024 state law creating an array of new firearms regulations. Proponents of a “yes” vote argue the measure is vital for maintaining controls on ghost guns and assault weapons, while those backing a “no” vote seek to repeal the statute.
With the general election scheduled for Tuesday, the ongoing ad campaign highlights a deep division over how lawmakers communicate complex public safety policies to the electorate. As both sides mobilize voters across the state, the debate leaves open questions regarding how political messaging and firearm regulations will intersect in future campaigns.
