The Democrats aren't going to spend a lot of time on the gun control issue absent some violent event that gets folks worked up over it (like the 1968 assassinations that lead to the 1968 Gun Control Act.) In 1986 there was 1 state that had no restrictions on concealed carry of a handgun, 8 that had a "shall issue" policy that required the state to issue a permit unless it could present a reason why an individual doesn't qualify for one, 24 states that had a "may issue" policy that allowed the state to arbitrarily deny a request, and 15 states that did not issue permits to private citizens and concealed carry was illegal. Contrast that with 2009: 2 states with no restrictions, 38 "shall issue" states, 8 "may issue" states, and 2 "no issue" states.

None of the hysteria predicting OK Corral gunfights, blood flowing in the streets, and fender-benders turning into firefights came true during this time. In fact, violent crime dropped while non-violent crime rose. Criminals aren't stupid when it comes to risk analysis.

__________________
_____________________________________________
Insanity in individuals is something rare - but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -Friedrich Nietzsche, philosopher (1844-1900)
_____________________________________________

Just an old sweet song keeps Georgia on my mind