Even though gun control is a major plank in the Demagogic party platform, they had to rely on a lot of true pro-gun candidates (not just the Clinton and Kerry types who pose with shotgusn at election time to pretend to be pro-gun). I don't think gun control is moving anywhere any time soon. Even if it does, we still have enough to filibuster it in the Senate. Unfortunately we can't count on a Bush veto.
I know fellow conservatives who have stayed home or voted third party because they are sick of having to choose between disappointing Republicans and dangerous Democrats. Unfortunately the Republican party has, for many years, taken the attitude that conservative Christians could be ignored because they had nowhere else to go. As they found out, they ignore their core at their peril. The Demagogic party beat us in voter turnout. Even McCain seems to have figured it out. The GOP really needed this kick in the tail, and I am happy it didn't happen in a presidential election year.
It will also be good that, in 2008, the Demagogic party will have had 2 years to do something about Iraq. Regardless of whether you believe we belong there or not (I believe we do but there are good arguments on both sides), it cost the GOP. When 2008 comes and it is time to elect a new president, that monkey won't just be on the Republican's collective backs.
The down side of the election is that the terrorists will view it as a sign that they are successfully wearing us down, and will step up their attacks.
I did vote straight Republican, and I don't like the outcome, but there is a silver lining in this cloud.