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The NRA’s new anti-Clinton ad is scary. It’s just not accurate.

Unsecured guns pose a far greater threat.

CREDIT: SCREENCAP
CREDIT: SCREENCAP

A new National Rifle Association ad makes it seem as though Hillary Clinton wants to ban people from having firearms in their homes, thereby leaving Americans vulnerable to violent criminals.

The ad, which the Washington Post reports will be showcased in battleground states as part of a $5 million campaign, features a woman who is alone in her bed when she hears glass breaking.

“She’ll call 911. Average response time — 11 minutes. Too late,” the narrator says. “She keeps a firearm in this safe for protection, but Hillary Clinton could take away her right to self-defense. And with Supreme Court justices, Hillary can [the safe with the gun disappears]. Don’t let Hillary leave you protected with nothing but a phone.”

The suggestion that Clinton wants to ban guns is misleading. Though Clinton supports gun control measures such as expanding background checks and reinstating the assault weapons ban, she told Fox News’ Chris Wallace in July she does not support overturning the Supreme Court’s 2008 Heller ruling that established an individual’s right to bear arms.

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Also misleading is the notion that Americans are at serious risk of having their homes invaded by violent criminals. According to an analysis of FBI data, the chance of someone’s residence being broken into by someone carrying a firearm is just a shade above zero, and the risk of suffering body harm during one of those exceedingly rare occurrences is even more remote —a number along the lines of 0.0000002 percent.

What the ad doesn’t mention is that an American is far more likely to be accidentally shot to death by a child than they are to be murdered during a home invasion. As ThinkProgress has previously reported, studies have found that only 39 percent of gun-owning families keep their firearms locked, unloaded, and separate from ammunition. At least 265 people were accidentally shot by kids last year, while the number of people murdered during home invasions in a given year is about 100.

The NRA endorsed Donald Trump in May during its annual meeting — an event that was held in the type of gun-free zone Trump has vowed to abolish. During his campaign, Trump has repeatedly made the false claim that Clinton “wants to abolish the Second Amendment.” The Republican presidential nominee came under criticism last month for saying that “Second Amendment people” — gun owners — could be the last hope if Clinton won the election. Last Friday, he again raised the specter of violence against Clinton by said saying he thinks her armed bodyguards should disarm.

“Let’s see what happens to her,” Trump said during a rally. “Take their guns away! Okay? It’d be very dangerous.”