People participate in a "Call to Action to Stop the Flow of Illegal Guns" demonstration which included victims of gun violence along with federal, state and city officials. | Spencer Platt/Getty Images politics Gun control groups to rally in all 50 states to pressure GOP

Gun control groups will hold rallies in all 50 states this weekend to urge the Senate to pass universal background checks, as well as a "red flag" measure aimed at potentially dangerous gun owners.

Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America — both funded by former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg — will also air nearly $1 million of TV and digital ads to pressure key GOP senators.


The nationwide effort comes as President Donald Trump has expressed interest in expanding background checks on gun sales and top Trump aides hold talks with a bipartisan group of senators.

But there is significant opposition to such legislation among Senate Republicans. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has called for a discussion on gun bills after the August recess, although he has not signaled support for any specific package at this point. McConnell is up for reelection in 2020.

Gun control groups believe the national mood on guns has shifted in the wake of horrific mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, left 32 people dead, including the Ohio shooter.

With Trump openly discussing his support for background checks legislation — and the powerful National Rifle Association dogged by internal scandals — advocates believe it may be possible to win over Republican votes to move a bill through the Senate. The House has already passed sweeping legislation to expand background checks.

“The American people want action on gun violence, and we’re saying so in a voice loud enough for every senator to hear,” John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety, said in a statement. “We’re unleashing the full power of our grassroots movement and leading our most aggressive August spending effort ever, to ensure the Senate gets the message and passes background checks and a strong federal ‘Red Flag’ law.”

The groups are spending $550,000 on digital ads targeting McConnell and GOP Sens. Cory Gardner of Colorado, Marco Rubio and Rick Scott of Florida, Johnny Isakson and David Perdue of Georgia, Richard Burr and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, John Cornyn and Ted Cruz of Texas, Rob Portman of Ohio, Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, and Mitt Romney of Utah.

Another $385,000 will be spent in national cable and local broadcast ads aimed at McConnell, Gardner, Rubio, Scott and Portman.