With straw men operating freely, and other second-hand sales unregulated, gunrunners have plenty of options. Federal laws affect everyone, they say, and would wipe out the gunrunners' paradises, such as Ohio. They acknowledge they probably won't win much there. The November election left the Senate evenly divided. In the House, Republicans will likely hold a 221-212 margin, with two independents.
Most people expect gridlock.
Few expect sweeping changes, and it's not as if gun control advocates have won many battles since Brady was enacted in 1993, when Democrats controlled both houses. Still, Kessler thought there was a chance the gun-show loophole on background checks could be closed. Voters in Colorado and Oregon this year passed initiatives that will force background checks at gun show sales. Paiss said much hope for gun control comes from moderate Republican governors like New York's George E. Pataki and George H. Ryan of Illinois. She also praised Ohio Gov. Bob Taft, also a Republican.