While leaders of both parties in Congress sought to tamp down any political bickering about who is to blame for the Arizona shootings, the battle is just simmering on the back burner of the Capitol Hill Stove.

Even as hundreds of staffers stood out in the cold on the steps of the U.S. Capitol to show their support for wounded Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ), it didn't take long to figure out that there are some divisions just below the surface.

"This is as plain and simple as reading the Ten Commandments," said Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA), who argued to reporters on the Capitol Plaza that Republicans know they have stirred the political pot too much over the past few years.

"The current climate produced an angry and deranged individual that took action," said Johnson, who pointed the finger at the GOP side, but refused to name any names.

For many Democrats, one main goal is to demand tougher gun laws, which they have called for in the wake of a number of mass shootings, but never found a way to get them into law.

"Jared Lee Loughner legally purchased 9mm Glock & high capacity clip after history of mental health and drug problems," Tweeted Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), who joined other Democrats in calling for action on that front.

But even Republicans who aren't considered ultra-conservative weren't buying any of that talk.

"I'm a supporter of the Second Amendment," said Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI), downplaying the idea of gun controls getting through Congress right now.

"I don't see any additional steps at this point."

Remember - even when Democrats had big majorities in the House and Senate in the last Congress, there was an overwhelming majority in favor of gun rights - and now that's even stronger after the last elections.

President Obama will go to Tucson on Wednesday for a memorial service for the victims of the shooting, the same day that some members of Congress will be in Washington for a series of security briefings.

I caught up with the top security official for the Senate yesterday, Sergeant-at-Arms Terry Gainer - his message was straightforward.

"Go about their business, that's the right thing to do," Gainer said, even as he acknowledged that there are always threats against members of the House and Senate.

"I don't members should curtail their activities at all," the former Washington, D.C. Chief of Police added.

Gainer though did urge staffers to be extra sensitive about what might seem like something weird in a phone call, letter or email.

"If the hair on the back of your neck goes up, that's a sign that something isn't right, and you need to talk to law enforcement."

And with aides a bit more jittery in the wake of the Arizona shootings, there may be a few more phone calls like that in coming weeks.