It's no secret that many legislators in Pennsylvania live in fear of the National Rifle Association. Phil Goldsmith wants to change that.

The former managing director under Philadelphia Mayor John Street and current head of the gun-control group CeaseFire PA says the organization's new political action committee will be targeting lawmakers who have often acceded to the NRA's powerful lobby, while also propping up those who have worked to keep handguns off the street (a nod to Philadelphia Magazine for being first on this one).

"My goal is that there be another voice out there than just the NRA, and that when legislators decide to make up their minds on these policy issues that they understand it's not just the NRA that they have to listen to," Goldsmith, also a former Philadelphia journalist, told PolitickerPA.com.

"We've got to show that you can buck the NRA and still win, and that if you buck CeaseFire you may have a contest on your hands," he added.

Goldsmith declined to disclose how much the organization is spending on the effort, or what races it was jumping into. He did say the group would be involved in less than a dozen races and would be wary to target elections where gun-friendly lawmakers lack strong opponents.

"There may be someone we don't like, but if he or she doesn't have viable competition, we're not going to spend our money there," he said. "This is our first real stab at it."

"My goal is that legislators make their decisions based on solid policy and not just on fear," Goldsmith added.