Newtown's Effects

It used to be that the only way the gun control crowd could win any victories was by dancing in blood.  But increasingly, even this is not as effective an approach as it used to be.  Shall Not Be Questioned pointed me to this December 10, 2013 New York Times article "State Gun Laws Enacted in the Year Since Newtown" which shows that generally, the laws passed since then have been substantially more pro-gun than anti-gun:

In the 12 months since the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., almost every state has enacted at least one new gun law. Nearly two-thirds of the new laws ease restrictions and expand the rights of gun owners. Most of those bills were approved in states controlled by Republicans. Those who support stricter regulations won some victories — mostly in states where the legislature and governorship are controlled by Democrats — to increase restrictions on gun use and ownership.

As Shall Not Be Questioned points out, even some of the "anti-gun" laws are ones that our side does not fundamentally disapprove of:

It also shows that a number of those bills that were passed, that are in the pro-gun control column, are minor bills like NICS improvements…. hardly a big win on their parts.