Also, I don't think the political issues are red herrings at all. People put so much blame on Obama, as though by doing this he has some plan to conquer America. After he leaves the White House, the next president can reverse these laws. There's nothing sedimented about them; if people truly want fewer gun restrictions, then vote in someone who will reverse them.
Now, the efficacy of that is certainly in question. But if there's difficulty in reversing these laws, then there's a deeper reason for it that cannot be blamed on Obama and his administration. Using him as the scapegoat is just misleading.