To the association's credit, its national lobbyists participated in negotiations on the gun bill and ended up supporting its provisions.

"If it has the gun ban in it, Clinton could win the public relations battle by calling it a gun bill."

Gov. Bob Martinez, who signed the gun bill in May, called the special session to debate the state sales tax on services.

He was unsuccessful with both the gun bill and the nomination.

"I am willing not only to vote for everything, I'll co-author every gun bill that comes along."

Blagojevich vetoed three gun bills in 2005, which would have:

Though senators supported it this year, tacking it onto another gun bill, that legislation was ultimately voted down.

He was among a handful of lawmakers who did not applaud when she talked about the gun bill.

In the last decade, he has introduced, sponsored or voted with the organization's interests on 18 major gun bills, the researchers found.

An important gun bill was scheduled for debate in the Colorado Legislature the same day, and he said he felt the need to testify.