use the recent tragedies to address the roots of gun violence not push for gun legislation with no hope in Congress

Instead of using the recent tragedies at Sandy Hook and Aurora as an opportunity to finally get Repubs. to agree on some legislation that might help the roots causes of gun violence (poverty etc..) Dems. took up legislation to regulate guns something with no hope of passing in congress. Instead of assuring the GOP that they would be able to keep there guns they have further alienated them. As a Democrat and a person that has lived in both liberal and conservative parts of the country I can understand how divisive this issue is and how the Dems blew an amazing political opportunity to actually make some progress on this issue, to actually create some legislation that both parties could agree on. Dems. must abandon current leg. and adopt leg. that takes on the issues that cause gun violence.