Another sign the conservative movement as skewed farther to the right since Reagan who, still, was pretty conservative. Reagan's legacy on gun control:
Signed the Mulford Act in California -- prohibited the carrying of firearms in public. Obviously, this was before he was shot in 1981.
Supported a 15-day waiting period for purchasing firearms.
Supported the passage of the Brady Bill, which included a 7-day waiting period and background checks, and even lobbied George H.W. Bush to support the law.
Also:
"With the right to bear arms comes a great responsibility to use caution and common sense on handgun purchases. And it's just plain common sense that there be a waiting period to allow local law-enforcement officials to conduct background checks on those who wish to purchase handguns."
The NRA of today would've spent millions to destroy him.