For the love of pete (do people say that anymore?
) down here in Alabama, compared to Maryland where I lived for 30+ years, even the "Democrats" don't fuss about gun laws.
It really is a different culture, though to be fair other than gun ownership/self defense in general, Birmingham is probably not much different than Baltimore.
When I went to renewel my "Pistol License" (CCW) last year ( had one since May 2005, I moved here from Reisterstown, Md 11/2004) two thirds of the renewers were African-American.
Most politics other than guns seems to be the same old Democrat vs. Republican machine.
Most folks would be surprised that the Alabama legislature is mostly Democrats, though what a "Democrat" is in the south compared to one in the Northeast or Northwest would be a surprise to many. Fiscally liberal but socially conservative, unless you are talking about Atlanta or Miami or somesuch (re: "Birmimgham News").
Having lived in "Baltimore Sun" territory (grew up in Carroll County. MD - yes, we got the "Carroll County Times, too) I am always amused at the B'ham News attempt to be "moderate"!