Blumenthal blasts NRA over Newtown robocalls

Connecticut Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal blasted the National Rifle Association on Monday over the NRA's launch of a robocall campaign targeting Newtown, Conn., residents in the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings there.

"NRA leadership demonstrated yet again last week just how low they are willing to go in their unconscionable effort to block any and all common sense, life saving gun violence legislation," Blumenthal wrote in a guest post published by the progressive website ThinkProgress.org. "Their most recent repugnant tactic—repeated robocalls to Newtown families—mocks and betrays the courage and compassion demonstrated by the Newtown community just barely three months after one of the world’s most horrific acts of gun violence seized 26 beautiful and heroic young lives."

The NRA launched the call and postcard campaign last week, asking Newtown residents to contact their state senators to urge them to block gun-control measures and "oppose any legislation that tramples on your Second Amendment rights and inhibits your inherent right to self-defense."

[Related: Mayor Bloomberg launches $12M ad assault on guns]

“Despite an outcry of public opposition, anti-gun legislators are aggressively pursuing numerous proposals that are designed to disarm and punish law-abiding gun owners and sportsmen,” one robocall stated. "These bills would ban commonly owned firearms, impose a gun-rationing scheme and mandate gun registration. It is critical you contact your senator."

"It's ridiculous and insensitive," one Newtown resident told Hartford's WVIT-TV. "I can't believe an organization would be so focused on the rights of gun owners with no consideration for the losses this town suffered."

"NRA leadership has shown no boundary it will not cross—including injecting its fear-based messages into the homes, the sanctuaries, of a grieving community," Blumenthal wrote.

Connecticut's General Assembly has been considering gun-control legislation in the wake of the Dec. 14 shootings, including a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines. But state lawmakers said on Monday they would delay a vote on gun control until after search warrants related to the school shootings are unsealed.