My take on the current political climate is that many people want feel like they are doing "something" and a rehash of the AWB fells like something. It does not matter if it worked, makes sense, addresses the problem at hand, or even addresses the right problem. The gun control lobby understands that people want to feel like they made a difference and are offering that feeling. I did not like some if the NRA's arguments (i.e. violent movies and video games), but I think the strategy is good.

At least Obama is President. Romney actually signed an assault weapons ban, while Obama has struggled to accomplish anything big.