The United Network of Rational Americans, a group that strongly supports universal background checks for gun purchases, on Friday released on ad citing the 1981 assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan as a reason for stricter controls.

“Armed Secret Service agents couldn’t protect Ronald Reagan when he was shot by a disturbed man with a gun,” the narrator says.

“But president Regan believes something could have prevented the attack,” the narrator adds, referring to a pro-universal background checks op-ed Reagan wrote for the New York Times:

“UNRA was founded by activist Scott Crider, who created Dogs Against Romney during the 2012 presidential campaign [emphasis added],” BuzzFeed’s Evan McMorris-Santoro reports.

“The Alabama-based UNRA hopes to appeal to Republicans and gun owners,” McMorris-Santoro adds.

Scott Crider. (Courtesy scottcrider.com).

"As life-long Southern gun owners, we strongly support America's history of responsible gun ownership," Crider said in a statement.

"Like most gun owners, we also believe universal background checks are a necessary step that will save lives and will in no way undermine the 2nd Amendment."

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(H/T: Washington Examiner). Featured image AP photo.