He has tried to soften his tone, but he has not been helped by the Republican nominee for lieutenant-governor, Jay Katzen, who wants a straight ban on abortions, a prohibition of same-sex marriage and a roll-back of Virginia's restrictions on hand-gun purchases (which Mr Earley supported).

ECONOMIST: The Virginia governor's race

On the one hand - saying no to gun control and preserving what many regard is a proud national tradition.

BBC: Swiss gun culture comes under fire

As gun owners and victims of gun violence, Gabby and Mark know preventing gun violence and protecting responsible gun ownership go hand-in-hand.

FORBES: Gabby Giffords' New Firearms Reform PAC Goes Viral

His hand-stitched ties have earned him nods from publications like GQ and Garden and Gun.

CNN: Girl, where'd you get that necktie?

Both gun-control advocates and the National Rifle Association claim the upper hand.

ECONOMIST: Factual abuse

She said she was holding her husband by his life vest with one hand and her Sea-Doo with the other when she found herself staring down a gun barrel.

CNN: A 'stupid' mistake or murder?

Emory L. Cozee was loading his .45 caliber semi-automatic when he shot himself in the hand as he was leaving the Indy 1500 Gun and Knife show at the state fairgrounds, state police said.

NPR: 5 Hurt In Shootings At Gun Shows In Ohio, Ind., NC

It might be with a gun, an army, a holy book, a law, an invisible free-market hand.

NPR: All Beings Are Interconnected