Criticizing this bill as ignorant or just plain stupid is missing the point. The sponsors don’t face any personal risk of backlash—their voters are of the same mind. It won’t cost them any money—they are simply spending others’ money which is SOP. The sponsors don’t even care if the bill is taken seriously—it will not be taken seriously by Congress.
This is the fundraising season for the 2016 elections. Deep-pocketed leftists are being sent a signal that gun control and the accompanying human rights violation are still big issues with the Dems. The pleas for donations will point out how even sensible gun control is being blocked by the NRA and opposing politicians. You (deep pocketed leftist or spouse of same) must donate $$ to us so we can win the fight. This is a fundraising ad, not a piece of legislation.
“This is a fundraising ad, not a piece of legislation.”
That makes the most sense of any explanation that I have heard. But it also means that we can use the bill to show how insane and stupid anti-second amendment legislation and Democrat politicians are.