Mr. Baucus' vote against his party's position suggested the degree to which geography could trump party affiliation on gun-control issues.

Why the hard line, especially at a moment when Congressional Republicans show signs of softening on the gun-control issue?

But the gun-control issue has proven remarkably fluid and unpredictable this spring, and gun-control advocates were not conceding the fight.

Ms. Hochberg, who held public office for nearly three decades, was noted for her work on environmental, civil-rights and gun-control issues.

Frankly, I think that President Clinton is late and short on the gun-control issue, but I'd be thankful for any progress.

The gun-control issue is like abortion: no matter what is said, one side will never win over the other to its views.

Skip Talbot, on the other hand, is more calamity-ready, and he confronts the gun-control issue, and everything else, with the attitude of Be Prepared.

It thrust the gun-control issue once more to the fore and renewed public argument about how home owners should deal with intruders.

After a long delay, the House has appointed its representatives to a conference committee that will reconcile differences on gun-control issues between the House and Senate.

But the Speaker was more adamant than ever that a full range of gun-control issues would be debated on the House floor.