Looking at it
dispassionately, and based on actual voting/signing records, Romney is actually better on guns than either Newt or Santorum.
Further reading shows me that the Massachusetts AWB he signed was really a clarification and re-affirmation of the existing AWB, and had some minor improvements in it for gun-owners like making (federal) post-ban rifles possible to own.
I'm still cheesed it's Romney, and with the inevitability mantle his campaign took early on although one can argue that should make you angrier at the GOP rather than Romney himself... Looking at his actual record, other than his stubborn unwillingness to disavow Romney care in Massachusetts, I don't see all that wrong with the platform.
And if the circumstantial evidence is true, folks like Paul Ryan, and even Ron Paul himself may well have his ear.
I'm also reminded that the saint himself, Reagan moved a lot to the Right over the years leading up to his presidency, and even then, he was far from a perfect conservative in some things.
Hell, even if you're totally convinced this means the end of the Republic, vote for Romney anyway, because he means more time to bottle water, and stock up on ammo and our kids to get a little older before SHTF.