Pennsylvania Democratic candidate for Congress burns semi-automatic rifle in TV ad

In a new TV ad, an Army veteran and Democratic candidate for Congress dismantles a semi-automatic rifle and then throws it into a bonfire.

In the ad, George Scott says he served in the U.S. Army all over the world.

"And I was trained to use guns like these," Scott says. "But Donald Trump's loyal soldiers like Scott Perry exploit guns and God to score political points."

The screen shows an image of Perry, a York County Republican, with President Donald Trump. Both are smiling and giving a thumbs up.

"I'm a veteran, a pastor and a Democrat, who believes in common sense and not blind loyalty," Scott says.

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Scott served in the U.S. Army for 20 years and retired as a lieutenant colonel. He then became a Lutheran minister. The ad features military photos and awards.

In the ad, as the semi-automatic rifle burns, text on the screen calls for "mandatory background checks" and to "ban assault rifles meant for war."

Scott is one of four Democratic candidates running for the 10th Congressional District, which includes much of northern York County. The other candidates are Eric Ding, a public health scientist; Shavonnia Corbin-Johnson, who worked for U.S. Sen. Bob Casey and in the Office of Management and Budget; and Alan Howe, a U.S. Air Force veteran. All four Democrats have called for increased gun restrictions.

Scott's campaign says the weapon in the ad is a Smith & Wesson M&P 15-22 semi-automatic assault rifle.

"It was purchased legally by Mr. Scott along with 100 rounds of ammunition from a Pennsylvania sporting goods store in under 20 minutes," the campaign said in a news release.

Ding released an ad earlier talking about his work as a public health scientist and how he led a two year investigation that exposed how a drug company hid risks from the public.

They are seeking to challenge Perry, who has described himself as a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association and has said "few are stronger advocates of the Second Amendment than I."

In a December 2017 news release, he said, "Unequivocally, Americans have a right to own the firearm of their choice to defend their lives, families, and possessions."

His government website says the terms "assault weapons" and "weapons of war" are political phrases and "not a defined class of firearms."

"Attempting to stop acts of violence by banning firearms doesn’t address the root cause of the violence," Perry's website says.

On the website, he says he has supported improvements to the country's mental health system,"which may prevent those who perpetrate these senseless acts of violence... ."

The primary is May 15.