Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's re-election victory last week marked a defeat for Second Amendment rights activists who enraged by the sweeping gun control legislation enacted last year had hoped to punish the governor in the first statewide vote since the Dec. 2012 Newtown massacre.

But softening the blow was a handful of wins in the General Assembly by candidates who support deregulating gun ownership and who were endorsed this year by the 15,000-member Connecticut Citizens Defense League. Malloy has promised to veto any legislation to roll back S.B. 1160 - the post-Newtown gun bill that included an assaults weapon ban, a 10-round limit on ammunition magazine size, and a universal background check requirement. But gun rights activists are hopeful that the pickups this year will help pave the road to a legislature more sympathetic to their cause.

"We would have been a lot more pleased if more pro-2A candidates were elected, but we are happy that we made some gains," said CCDL President Scott Wilson, using the group's colloquial name for what they describe as "pro-Second Amendment" candidates. Wilson added that in next year's session, "The odds of anything that would be beneficial to gun owners are remote at best."

The group instead plans to play defense, using their allies in the legislature to block any measures to further regulate guns. The first fight could be over a bill Malloy says he will introduce next year to ban anyone with a temporary restraining order from possessing a gun. CCDL has raised concerns about seizing a weapon without due process, and says that the proposal infringes on individual rights.

None of the state Senate challenger candidates who were endorsed by the CCDL won their races, but "we're at least happy that there were some inroads made with the state house," Wilson said, mentioning "newly elected pro-2a legislators that hopefuly will be able to have their voices heard in Hartford."

Connecticut Republicans won 10 additional seats in the state House of Representatives Tuesday, riding a national Republican wave that allowed the party to take control of the U.S. Senate and pick up several gubernatorial seats in traditionally blue states.

In three districts, CCDL-endorsed challenger candidates won races against incumbents who had voted for the post-Newtown gun bill.

Republican Charles Ferraro of West Haven defeated incumbent Democratic state rep. Paul Davis of Orange in the state House's 117th District, Cara Pavalock - a Republican who had included in her campaign platform a promise to promote "common sense laws that protect our right to bear arms" - won her race against state Rep. Christopher Wright of Bristol, a Democrat, and Republican Pam Staneski won against Milford Democratic state Rep. James Maroney.

Wilson said their goal this year is "to make sure that nothing gets passed that will harm gun owners."

He does not expect any of the CCDL candidates who won to try to push through pro-gun measures next year.

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In Disappointing Election, Gun Rights Activists Find Glimmer Of Hope