Clearly it is the Republicans in Washington who are standing in the gap for gun owners and those who feel that the federal government is attempting to take their guns through tough gun legislation.  

From what I read that comprehensive gun package introduced Thursday (3-21) faces an uncertain future, with many Republicans and moderrate Democrats quibbling over the universal background check, which I think is a good first step. The background check, not the quibbling! 

However congress has already acted in some ways on guns, even passing a government spending bill that includes four gun provisions which actually loosen gun regulations.  A legislative nod from the GOP lawmakers to the gun owners of America.