According to a recent survey from the Pew Research Center, as reported by the NSSF, public attitudes on gun control have moved in a more conservative direction over the past year. For the first time in a Pew Research survey, nearly as many people believe it is more important to protect the right of Americans to own guns (45%) than to control gun ownership (49%). As recently as a year ago, 58% said it was more important to control gun ownership, while 37% said it was more important to protect the right to own guns.

While these are indeed tenuous times for gun owners, there’s never been a better time to support the groups that are fighting to protect your rights and keep informed about legislative developments. A great place to keep abreast is the National Rifle Association’s Institute For Legislative Action (www.nraila.org ). And if you’re not an NRA member, today’s a great time to join.