A simple review of the history of gun control in this country makes it very apparent that it is primarily a right-left issue.
While there have certainly been Republicans who have supported gun control bills, and Democrats who have opposed them, virtually every gun control bill of any consequence since 1960 has come from the Democratic party.
Al Gore's support for gun control policies is widely seen to have been a contributing factor in his losing two traditionally Democratic states -- Michigan and West Virginia -- as well as his home state of Tennessee in the 2000 election.
Strengthening gun control laws has been part of the Democratic Party's national platform for decades. And, even though Democrats moved to downplay the party's role in gun control legislation after 2000, the subject remains part of the Democratic Party's national platform, only waiting to be dusted off when the situation becomes beneficial to them.
Democrats have, by their words, action, and party history, stereotyped themselves as being the party of gun control.
As for the contention that Democrats are not socialist, once again, the history speaks for itself. Creation of and massive expansions of the welfare system, absolute opposition to doing anything that might help solve the growing Social Security insolvency problem (OTHER than raising taxes), nationalized health care, even calls for taking over some private industry...
That, my friend, is socialism in action, and the Democrats are the poster child for it in this country today.