Democratic leaders in both chambers showed little enthusiasm Tuesday for new gun control measures in the wake of the Virginia Tech shootings.

“I hope there’s not a rush to do anything,” said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. “We need to take a deep breath.”

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., told a closed-door meeting of the Democratic Caucus on Tuesday, “We need to look at what we can do to help protect people’s lives” in light of the shootings, according to Carolyn McCarthy, D-N.Y., who attended the meeting.

But Pelosi stopped short of proposing any kind of gun bill in the meeting, according to members. Pelosi said after the meeting that she plans to meet with McCarthy, at McCarthy’s request. But Pelosi declined to comment further about any possible legislative moves, including McCarthy’s bill (HR 1022) that would renew the assault weapons ban.

McCarthy and another leading gun control supporter, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., reacted quickly to the April 16 Virginia Tech shootings, saying the incident should spark new interest in moving legislation, including a renewal of the ban on so-called assault weapons.

But the shootings have not appeared to change the reality in either chamber that Democrats are divided over the issue of guns and lack enough votes to move legislation enacting new restrictions.

Reid was one of 14 Senate Democrats to vote in favor of legislation (PL 109-92) in 2005 that protects gunmakers and dealers from lawsuits. He also voted against the 1993 ban (PL 103-322) on so-called assault weapons as well as a failed reauthorization in 2004.

The new Senate Democratic majority includes members such as Jon Tester of Montana, who ran on a pro-gun rights platform. On Tuesday, Tester sought to deflect questions about gun control, saying it is “way, way too insensitive and way, way too premature” to talk about changing gun laws.

Even Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., who has supported tighter gun restrictions in the past, exhibited little enthusiasm Tuesday. “It’s too early to even talk about that,” said Schumer.

Similarly, House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer, D-Md., declined to say whether the shootings might prompt the House to take up gun legislation.

“I don’t want to get into that debate with reference of what we need to do less than 24 hours after this incident has occurred,” Hoyer told reporters Tuesday morning. “Clearly there will be a political debate which ought to occur and will occur as to whether or not there is some action we can take.”

Given the makeup of the Democratic caucus, Feinstein conceded “it would be very hard” to move gun control legislation. But Feinstein said Tuesday, “We’re looking at a number of things,” including limits on the number of bullets a single clip of ammunition could hold.

Paul Helmke, president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, said other potential bills might extend background checks to all gun sales and limit the number of handguns buyers could obtain at one time.

The most any Democratic leader offered was a possible hearing. Patrick J. Leahy, D-Vt., chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said he was “very hesitant to say anything today” but added, “At some point we’ll have a hearing to find out what happened.”

One issue that is unlikely to be pressed is whether to limit non-citizens’ access to guns. The Virginia Tech shooter, Cho Seung-Hui, 23, was a legal permanent resident from South Korea.

“We should not assume that because one deranged man in that status committed this crime, that we should pass new legislation,” said Senate Majority Whip Richard J. Durbin, D-Ill. “Some of the worst tragedies that have occurred in America have been at the hands of American citizens. The real haters in America will use every advantage they can find for their position. But I think sensible and rational people will take a step back and try and look at this honestly.”

Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., said that legal resident status is important.

“I think if the person is here legally, I would question whether we should limit their rights and freedoms in any way,” DeMint said. “This is probably something we all need to evaluate. Clearly something went desperately wrong. But I don’t think it is an immigration issue.”

In the House, Minority Whip Roy Blunt, R-Mo., said the shootings would have no impact on the GOP’s decision whether to attach to a D.C. voting rights bill (HR 1433) scheduled for Thursday a provision allowing gun ownership in the District of Columbia.

The language sank the bill when it was debated on the House floor in March, and Democrats have said they believe Republicans will not try to add it to the bill again in the wake of the campus shootings in Blacksburg, Va.

But Blunt said his decision will be based solely on what the Democrats allow when they construct the rule for the bill.

“I don’t see anyone changing their mind or their attitude on this issue because of this tragedy,” Blunt said.

Michael Sandler and Susan Ferrechio contributed to this story.