The Hill has an interesting article about the impact that electing Howard Dean to be DNC chairman and Harry Reid to Senate Minority Leader will have on the gun control movement. Both Dean and Reid are strong supporters of gun rights.

The Democrats needn't be completely in lockstep with the NRA nor should they embrace some utopian vision of a gun-free world. Gun control legislation should be evaluated on its merits. For instance, I think the Brady Bill was a good piece of legislation. Having a short waiting period to own a handgun while a background check is performed seems to me to be appropriate. Other proposals like the assault weapons ban appear to be more symbolic which is why some Democrats like Sen. Russ Feingold voted not to renew it.