Democratic Senate hopeful Jason Kander is fighting back against criticism of his loyalty to the Second Amendment with a new ad depicting him assembling a rifle blindfolded. 
 
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 "Sen. Blunt has been attacking me on guns. Well, in the Army, I learned how to use and respect my rifle. In Afghanistan, I volunteered to be an extra gun in a convoy of unarmored SUVs," Kander says. 
 
 "And in the State Legislature, I supported Second Amendment rights. I also believe in background checks, so the terrorists can't get their hands on one of these," he adds, holding the just-assembled rifle. 
 
 The Democrat closes with a flourish on the generic campaign ad tagline: "I approve this message, because I would like to see Sen. Blunt do this," he says, displaying the rifle and removing his blindfold. 
 
 The National Rifle Association cast Kander as someone who would vote against Second Amendment rights in an ad last week that depicted a home invasion 

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 A new ad released by Missouri Democrat Jason Kander shows the senatorial candidate piecing together a firearm and then challenging Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) to do the same. (Jason Kander) 
 
 Politicians have long liked to hold guns in campaign spots. They really like to fire them. Now, a candidate has introduced a new caliber of gun ad. 
 
 Democrat Jason Kander, who is challenging Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) for his seat, appears in an ad blindfolded and standing at a wooden table in a darkly lit warehouse. As he begins to speak, Kander starts piecing together a rifle. The metallic clank of each part falling into place accentuates his argument, and the beginning of the ad establishes his credentials as someone who knows how to use guns, and respects them, too. But despite his proclaiming of support for the Second Amendment, it's not an ad that's likely to make the National Rifle Association happy. 
 
 "I also believe in background checks, so that terrorists can't get their hands on one of these," Kander pivots. 
 
 Second Amendment advocates argue that background checks would limit a constitutionally guaranteed right, while background-check advocates say it's a simple matter of keeping weapons out of the hands of dangerous individuals. 
 
 Recent efforts at passing background-check legislation haven't gone very far in Congress. But the American public apparently isn't as split as the legislature; The Post reported last fall that about 85 percent of gun owners support universal background checks for purchasers. 
 
 Kander actually has a chance to take Blunt's seat; despite its GOP lean at the federal level, Missouri is ranked the 10th most likely to flip parties in The Fix's most recent Senate rankings, in part because Democrats consider Kander, a 35-year-old secretary of state and Afghanistan war veteran, a strong recruit. 
 
 If his newest ad resonates with voters, Kander will be that much closer.
– How gun crazy have political ads gotten? Missouri's supposedly anti-gun candidate for US Senate just released one in which he assembles an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle while blindfolded and bragging that he'd "like to see Sen. Blunt do this." The ad, from Democrat Jason Kander, was created in response to an NRA ad endorsing his opponent, Roy Blunt, and claiming he'd vote against Second Amendment rights, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. The Washington Post calls it a "new caliber of gun ad" that "may be the best ad of the election so far." While assembling the rifle, Kander—a former Army captain who served in Afghanistan—voices his support for gun ownership while saying he "believes in background checks so that terrorists can't get their hands on one of these." The ad was praised by Americans for Responsible Solutions, the gun control group founded by Gabby Giffords, the Hill reports. The group's executive director says Kander is fighting back against the "Washington gun lobby" while fighting for "the rights of responsible gun owners." A recent poll showed 85% of gun owners support universal background checks. The NRA's major beef with Kander is that he once voted against allowing concealed guns on college campuses.