Illinois Dem faces opposition from own party for gun-rights views

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Pro-gun Democrat facing opposition from her own party

Previous allies turning their backs on congressional candidate Debbie Halvorson?

Former Illinois Rep. Debbie Halvorson wants ex-Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.'s seat in Congress. So do 16 other people. But the Democrat says she's getting hammered by her own party over her pro-gun rights views.

Halvorson, who had served in the House of Representatives from 2009 to 2011 and lost to Jackson in a 2012 Democratic primary, says she's being targeted by a super PAC funded by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

"I'm the only (candidate) who cannot be rubberstamped, I'm the only one who can't be controlled," she told Fox News.

The Independence USA PAC released two ads this week against Halvorson, warning voters to "watch out" for her because of her "A" rating from the National Rifle Association. One ad, which airs on cable and broadcast television stations, goes on to list several gun control measures Halvorson voted against.

The group's second attack ad against Halvorson starts off: "Gun violence is out of control and Debbie Halvorson will make it worse."

Stefan Friedman of Independence USA PAC said in a statement that Halvorson's "record on gun control safety has been entirely devoid of any semblance of the kind of common-sense reforms that will keep Americans safer from the scourge of gun violence."

Independence USA PAC is only running ads opposing Halvorson and is not endorsing any of the other candidates in the race. The special election will be held Feb. 26.

Jackson resigned from his congressional seat last year amid a corruption probe.