NRA Calling and Emailing Legislators Ahead of Vote on Gun Legislation

Also launches $500,000 internet ad buy

As the Senate begins votes today on a package of gun control legislation, the National Rifle Association is flooding congressional offices with calls and emails and is launching a $500,000 internet ad buy to oppose legislation backed by President Obama, Democratic senators and a handful of Republicans.

"President Obama and anti-gun ringleaders in Congress and the national media are waging all-out war on our gun rights, " said an alert sent Tuesday night to NRA members, urging them to sign petitions and contract congressional offices. In addition, the Web ad — running on the Drudge Report, the Washington Post and other Web sites — argues that the gun legislation backed by Obama and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg will have no effect on crime.